PENNY-WISE
Vol. V, No. 5 Consecutive Issue No. 26 September 15, 1971
Welcome back to another issue of PENNY-WISE and to another season of large
cent collecting during 1971-72.
Your Editor always has the feeling after he has completed another consecutive
issue of PENNY-WISE that the latest issue is really the greatest ! Lots of people have
told us that they thought that No. 25 would be impossible to excel. Oh yes? Well wait
until you wade through the next 45 or so pages of this issue then let's hear what
you have to say.
This issue has everything - historical essays, stories, items of information, data
fresh from the computerized minds of some of our experts, comments from members,
a photo-penny quiz from Ned Bush, reports on conventions, etc. etc. Even the half
cent collectors will find something special of interest!
As usual, there were a lot of other things which we would have liked to have in-
cluded - for instance, we've been promising you a listing of donations to our library
which should be available on loan to any EAC member who is interested. Well, your
Editor is just too busy, trying to put out P-W each month, so that he has never had
time to keep up on this particular department. So John Wright will be taking over as
soon as your Editor can manage to pack up the material and forward it to him. We
hope that John will be able to compile a complete listing for the next issue. He's al-
ready forwarded us some rules for use of the Library, but we'll defer those until next
time too.
Likewise, we're happy to report that our congenial Floridian friend, Bill Parks,
who threatened to retire about a year ago, is still very much active in the process of
preparing and mailing your issue of P-W every other month it's his stamp that is
carried in the upper left hand corner of your mail sheet and every now and then,
he catches "hail Columbia" for something which your Editor really needs to be
blamed so our thanks to you, Bill.
Mama Mimeo, of course, does her grand job every issue. We're lucky to have
such a dedicated person to handle our printing and mailing problems every issue.
We thank all of the contributors to this and to past issues for making PENNY-
WISE the fine specialty bulletin that it has become. Already we're starting on
Issue No. 27 so send us your articles, your comments, your criticisms and suggestions,
your Swaps and Sales.
And while you're browsing through this issue, just stop and think of what this
issue might cost as compared to information stated elsewhere for the cost of past
issues this is as long as the last issue and contains a lot of plates and offset
printing besides.
So, read on get informed like Aaron Feldman reminds us from time to
time - "Buy the book before the coin" and have a happy!
; ' Yours in EAC,
THE EDITOR
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SYMBOLS ON LARGE CENTS
Jeffrey Oliphant
Symbols date back to the beginning of mankind. The word "symbol" somes from
the Latin s.ymbolum meaning "something thrown together with anything else; some-
thing associated with or representing something else; a pictographic representation;
or a token., pledge, or sign by which one infers a meaning". Symbols have been used
by every race, creed, and civilization, from primitive man until the present. The
earliest symbols had a kind of pictorial quality by which sensitized minds could
correctly infer their meanings. Such a symbolic shorthand had to be the earliest form
of writing. The effectiveness of a symbol was due partly to its appropriate represen-
tation of the subject intended and partly to its east of interpretation. A poor symbol
was more likely to be misread.
Symbols representing ideas, beliefs, or ideals were a later development, ap-
parently originating from early religious practices. In some instances they were
pictorial for certain experiences, in other cases for certain practices or rituals.
The Ingner level of abstraction necessary for symbolizing those ideas, beliefs, or
ideals required some such procedure which would bring to mind that which was intended.
Symbols on coins oftentimes represent ideas or beliefs. For example, when the
U.S. Mmt first was started, those coin designs best representative of the new nation's
ideas and beliefs were selected. To depict freedom from oppression (i.e. liberty) on
Ls coins, the Mint used the bust of a women over which the word LIBERTY was
inscribed. Later on, the Mint engraver added a Liberty cap and a headband bearing
the word LIBERTY. Such a fillet on Miss Liberty emphasized her regal power and
the Liberty cap emphasized freedom. By the same token, a chain was chosen to
represent the union of the thirteen colonies into one solid, inseparable nation. This,
in turn, was replaced by a wreath, chosen to depict the U.S. as a peaceful nation and
to commemorate our nation's victory over Britain. Stars were added to symbolize
each of the original thirteen colonies. Subsequently, an American eagle was depicted
on most U.S. coins (but not on large cents) to signify the nation's strength.*
Thus, as cited above, the main symbols on large cents were the chain, Miss
Liberty, a Liberty cap, a fillet, a wreath either olive or laurel, and the stars.
Each of these symbols will now be more fully discussed as to their allegorical meanings.
The eagle will not be presented here in any detail, inasmuch as it was never
authorized to appear on any U.S. minor coins, although succeeding Acts of Congress
have required it to be used on all but the smallest gold and silver coins. The eagle
as a symbol on U.S. coins, however, is a rather confusing choice. If our nation
were to be depicted as genuinely dedicated to peaceful pursuits, then the selection of
the eagle was most inappropriate. The eagle is associated historically only with
militaristic regimes.
171 -
THE CHAIN
The chain made its one and only appearance on coins struck by the United States
Mint when it was used as the main device on the reverse of the 1793 cents. These
coins are now known as the Chain cents. Actually, there were three different types
of cents struck in 1793, the Chain variety being the least number minted and it was
produced over a shorter period of time than either of the other two. The variety
was quickly replaced because its symbolic design was poorly accepted by the
nation's populace.
Basically, the chain was intended by its designer, Robert Birch, to symbolize
the union of the thirteen colonies, along with the states of Vermont and Kentucky,
into one nation. The chain contained fifteen links, one for each state; and Birch felt
that their linkage into an endless chain would be a symbol that they, as a whole,
could accomplish tasks beyond the ability of any single part (or state).
The symbol of the chain had been used first on the Continental frational notes
of February 17, 1776. The chain was also seen on the Continental dollars of 1776,
made of pewter, as well as on the pewter medal of 1783. It was last used on Colonial
coins in 1787 when the chain appeared on the Fugio coppers designed by James
Jarvis. Since there were only thirteen colonies at the time, a chain of thirteen closed
links, each bearing the name of a colony (or state ) was used on both the Continental
dollars and the Fugio coppers (but not on the restrikes). That each link bore the
name of a state is quite significant, thereby proving that each link designated a
particular state. If they had been represented without any such inscriptions, the links
then would have implied only the states, in general.
Although it was not intended as such by Birch, a different interpretation of the
chain was that of slavery and bondage. In ancient times, a chain was used as a de-
vice to restrict slaves and to prevent their escape. It has served the same purpose
for prisoners even in recent years. To the American colonists, however, most of
whom had migrated from Europe to escape political oppression, only the interpre-
tation of slavery and bondage was considered. Hence, they showed great disapproval
for the Chain cents. In fact, there were many who referred to the cents as
"Liberty in chains"; and they openly stated that the chain represented a bad omen
for Liberty. Because of such a great outcry, Mint Director Rittenhouse changed
the design after only 36,103 coins had been struck, thus ending the short-lived
appearance of the chain on United States cents.
MISS LIBERTY
The female bust on all U.S. large cents is referred to as Miss Liberty, or
Liberty for short. The word LIBERTY appears above the bust on all large cents
struck between the years 1793 and 1807 inclusively; and it appears on the head band
of all large cents dated 1808 and thereafter.
Miss Liberty, as depicted on U.S. large cents, is the symbol of peace and
freedom. Miss Liberty comes from the Roman goddess Libertas who was
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represented as a matron wearing a Phrygian cap and holding a laurel wreath. Three
temples in Rome were constructed in her name. The word "liberty" is derived from
the Latin liber , meaning free. Thus, the figure of Miss Liberty on a coin symbolized
a country's freedom.
Miss Liberty first appeared on many coins of the Imperial Roman Empire.
She was depicted as standing, holding a sceptre in one hand and a pileus (liberty cap)
in the other. The Miss Liberty on U.S. coins is derived from British artist-
engraver John Croker's conception of Britannia as she appears on English coins of
the 18th century. Miss Liberty appears on the 1776 Massachusetts Pine Tree cent
copper patterns believed to have been struck by Paul Revere and John Gill. She is
also found on South Carolina notes of the following year as well as on the colonial
coinage of several other states. Miss Liberty later appeared on the LIBERT AS
AMERICANA medal struck by Dupre in 1792, from which the actual design of Miss
Liberty on large cents was derived.
THE LIBERTY CAP
A liberty cap or headdress of Miss Liberty can be found on U.S. large cents
struck in 1794 and 1795 and some dated 1793 and 1796. The liberty cap was chosen
because it represented freedom, which was the spirit of America. The freedoms
which the cap primarily symbolized were: freedom from physical restraint; free-
dom from despotic control; the power of free choice; and the positive enjoyment
of various social, political, and economic rights.
A liberty cap is a close-fitting, conical cap which was first used by the ancient
Phrygians, a race from the shores of the Black Sea who conquered and then in-
habited the entire eastern section of Asia Minor. To distinguish themselves from the
natives, the Phrygians, who flourished from circa 1500 B.C. to 331 B.C. , wore a
close-fitting cap made of cloth or felt. They even had a design of this cap stamped
on their coins. Besides being used to distinguish the conquerors from the natives,
the cap had two other purposes: one, it served as a protection against the extreme
cold; and two, it had a narrow brim in front to shield their eyes from the sun.
The Romans adopted from the Phrygians the custom of wearing caps. However,
the Romans allowed only free men to wear them. When a slave was set free, a red
cap, called pileus in Latin, was placed upon his head, thereby symbolizing his free-
dom. When Saturninus captured Rome in 263 B.C. , he placed a cap upon a spear
and had it carried around the city as a promise of freedom for all slaves of Rome
who would join him. In later years, during the annual celebration of Saturninus'
capture of Rome, a seven-day religious festival which started on December 17, one
of the rituals observed was to shave the head of any slave who had obtained his
freedom and to place an undyed pileus upon his head. Thus, from the use of the pileus
or cap as a symbol of a slave's freedom, came the international use of the liberty cap
today as a symbol of liberty and freedom.
When Julius Caesar was murdered on the Ides of March, 44 B.C. , the conspira-
tors carried a Phrygian cap on a spear through the streets of Rome as a token of the
freedom of the city and as a warning to future leaders. To celebrate the death of
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THE CHAIN
Rev. - note that
names of states
are not on links.
Copper Pattern.
Rev. showing names
of states ON links
Rev. of 1793
Chain cent
THE LIBERTY CAP
THE STARS
Above :
Byzantine Copper -
Anastasius I ?
Right -
Augustus
27 B.C.-44 A.D.
U.S. large cent
1816-1857 with
mod i f i cat ions.
Phrygian Cap between
2 daggers. Coin struck
in 44 B.C. by decree of
Brutus and Cassius to
commemorate death of
Julius Caesar.
U.S. Liberty Cap
large cent.
1793-1796
1792 LIBERTAS AMERICANA
Medal by Dupre.
- 174 -
Caesar., the new Roman rulers, primarily Brutus and Cassius, ordered the striking
of coins showing the Phrygian cap between two daggers. The statue of the Goddess
of Liberty on Aventine Hill in Rome shows a Phrygian cap carried in her hand as a
symbol of freedom „ In 161 A. D. , during the reign of Verus, the Phrygian cap was
used by the Romans to celebrate the victorious takeover of Armenia.
Again, the Phrygian cap was used by the Dutch during their more than forty-
years war (from 1576 to 1648), which ended in the overthrow of Spanish domination.
Next to adopt the liberty cap were the British. The cap was used in the 1760's
by John Wilkes, who spearheaded the liberal revolt against the policies of George III.
Some British tokens of this period show Britannia carrying a liberty cap on a spear.
The British liberty cap is blue with a white border.
Undoubtedly the most famous use of the liberty cap was by the French. The
cap was introduced by the Girondists during the French Revolution, Its favorable
reception by the people stemmed principally from an article by Brissot which
appeared in the "Patriote Francais" for February 6, 1792. Declaring that the
'mournful uniform of hats' had been introduced by priests and despots, Brissot then
went on to cite from history that all great nations - the Greeks, the Romans, the
Gauls - had held the cap in peculiar honor, and that in modern times Voltaire and
Rousseau had worn it as a symbol of freedom. Brissot noted that the "bonnet rouge"
(red cap) had been habitually worn by galley slaves. After Brissot's article
appeared, red became the symbol, along with the liberty cap, of the Girondists.
Previous to this, red had always been the symbol of despotism and oppression, and
the red flag had been the symbol of martial law. On June 20, 1792, when forces
loyal to the monarchy were defeated, the "Bonnet rouge" henceforth became the
emblem of the victory of republicanism over the monarchy. Also, it became the sym-
bol of liberty for the first French Republic.
Colonial America took up the liberty cap in 1746. It was subsequently used as
one of the devices on the flag of the Philadelphia Light Horse Guards, a militia
company organized some time before the American Revolution. At the time, liberty
trees or liberty poles were commonly used in all the colonies to signal opposition to
the Stamp Act. In the 1770's, when relations between Britain and the colonies
worsened as a result of the Boston Massacre, the Tea Party, and the Intolerable
Acts of 1774, the liberty cap became the symbol of the Patriots in opposition to the
Loyalists and to the British. The symbol was first used in this capacity when it
appeared on the masthead of the Boston Gazette in the spring of 1770. The masthead
depicts Miss Liberty with the British Unionjack on her shield, while in her hand she
holds a spear surmounted by the liberty cap. On August 31, 1775, the Committee
of bafety, while meeting in Philadelphia, adopted a resolution providing a seal for
the board s use. This was to be engraved with a liberty cap and the motto, "This is
my right, and I will defend it. "
The liberty cap made several appearances on Colonial coins before the first U.S.
Mint was in operation. Many Georgia notes of 1776 showed a liberty cap on a pole,
flanked by a caduceus. The liberty cap was made part of the main obverse design on
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the LIBERTAS AMERICANA medal*,' This’medal, designed by Dupre, was struck to
honor the new nation. The medal, although it bears the dates 1776 and 1781, was
struck in 1782. The liberty cap device was also used on the Convention Medal of
1792, which subsequently became the direct ancestor of Joseph Wright’s obverse of
the 1793 Liberty Cap cents.
The Liberty Cap cents, the last of the three major varieties issued during
1793, appeared late in the year. Since the liberty cap was known for its close ties
with the French Revolution, these U. S 0 cents, believed by some to have been
designed by Jean Pierre Droz*, a Parisian engraver of Swiss descent, were also
referred to as the "French Heads".
The last time the symbol of the liberty cap was used as the main device on a
U.S. coin was in 1850, when it was used on a pattern three cent piece. After 1850,
the liberty cap was used on several silver coins until 1916.
The liberty cap as a United States' symbol is blue, with a border of gilt stars
on white. As previously stated, the French liberty cap is red, while the British is
blue with a white border.
The use of the liberty cap as a coin symbol still continues, and many Latin and
South American countries have adopted some form of the liberty cap. Mexico used
the Phrygian cap on its gold and silver coins from 1823 to 1879 and on nearly all its
coins struck between 1905 and 1930. Several other Latin American countries have
used the liberty cap on their national seals.
As previously mentioned, the liberty cap on U.S. large cents is surmounted on
a pole. Actually, when depicted with a pole, the liberty cap has a slightly different
meaning symbolically - it implies a gift of freedom from a former and benevolent
master, not the independence and liberty won through bloddy conflict as exhibited by
the American colonists in their determination to maintain their birtnright as free
men. Thus, the choice of the liberty cap and the pole on U.S. cents was neither
wise nor suitable.
Nevertheless, the liberty cap has been accepted as an international symbol of
freedom and liberty. Although the symbol has been in existence for over 2000 years,
it will probably continue to exist so long as somebody is striving for freedom. The
United States at one time strived for its freedom and thus this design was depicted on
the nation's coins, primarily the large cents.
THE FILLET
A fillet is the head band which appears on cents struck between the years 1808
and 1814, as well as on all other coin denominations struck at the U.S. Mint during
this period. The fillet itself is a band or type of crown. The fillet on the cent
* It is now generally acknowledged by most experts that Joseph Wright was the
designer of the Liberty Cap cents.
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THE FILLET
THE f°EATH
Drachm of Herron II,
Syracuse 274-216 B.C,
Augustus ?
U.S, large cent 1793-
1807, with 2-branch
wreath
U.S. large cent 1808-
1857 with single branch
wreath
U.S. .large cent
1796-1807
- 177 -
symbolizes a token of achievement or victory. When the cent design was changed in
1816, the fillet did not appear again.
A fillet tied around the head was probably first used by primitive man to keep
his long hair from getting into his eyes. Later, the fillet became specialized,
priests wearing one pattern and fighting men another. There is no doubt that the
fillet, as depicted on early coins, emphasized royalty. The use of the fillet as a
symbol of authority first originated in the Far East. It was later adopted by
Alexander the Great. There is an interesting story associated with the fillet of
Alexander: once upon a time Alexander accidentally wounded Lysimachus, a
prominent warrior, and he bound the injury with his own fillet. Later, this was
considered a lucky omen for Lysimachus, who shortly afterwards became King of
Thrace.
The Greeks and Romans also used a fillet on several of their coins. The fillet
was generally a prize given to a schoolboy for any kind of victory in annual town
games. It conveyed an honor which would be considered ranking well above today's
Eagle Scout badge.
The fillet on the large cents of 1796-1807, commonly referred to as the Fillet
cents, is really not a fillet in the true sense. It is actually a tuft of ribbon used by
Gilbert Stuart merely to enhance the design of these large cents. About the only
thing symbolic of this pseudo-fillet is that it marked the end of that period when
Miss Liberty's hair was free to go on "blowing in the wind". Gilbert Stuart, though
a competent portraitist, appears not to have been particularly alert to symbolism.
THE STARS
Stars appear in the obverse design of all cents struck between the years 1808
and 1857 . The stars are six-pointed and appear in a circular fashion around the
border. There are always thirteen stars, each one symbolizing one of the original
thirteen colonies. The only exception, the 1817 Newcomb-16, has fifteen stars, for
which no symbolic explanation has ever been forthcoming.
Stars, or star-like devices, are occasionally found on ancient Greek coins
either as moneyer's symbols, mintmarks of some sort, or local countermarks.
Stars have also been found on some ancient Roman coinage. Likewise, the star was
often used in French and British heraldry.
It is not known where the Americans acquired the design of the star. Stars
have been found as mintmarks or initial marks since the Renaissance, with their
meanings oftentimes changing. Some theorize that the American 6-pointed star
comes from the British, where it was often found on medals and coats-of-arms of
English royalty and nobility. Others claim that the American star comes from the
French, these proponents citing, as proof, the star on the five-franc piece of the
French Republic. On this particular coin there is a six-pointed star which the
French called an etoile. There are still others who believe that the Americans
invented their own star. However, the theory I am most inclined to believe is that
the star was adopted from British heraldry by accident, rather than purposely.
Stars appeared on many coins of colonial America. The symbolism of the
thirteen-star formation representing the thirteen original colonies was first used
on the Nova Constellatio patterns of 1783. However, the use of thirteen stars in
a circular arrangement had been used on the American flag during and after the
Revolutionary War. Most of the states copied the Nova Constellatio coppers and
adopted coinage which included stars in the design. Stars are also found on the
Washington pieces.
After the U.S. Mint began operation, it experimented by adding a star to the
design of new coins for each new state as it was admitted to the Union. There are
fifteen stars on the quarter dollar of 1796 as well as on the half dollars of 1794-
1797. These two additional stars represented the states of Vermont and Kentucky
which were admitted to the Union in 1791 and 1792 respectively. With the admission
of Tennessee in 1796, half dimes, dimes, and half dollars were minted with sixteen
stars. By 1797, however, the Mint realized that it would be impractical to con-
tinue adding a star for each uew ? state; so it again reduced the number of stars to
thirteen, thereby symbolizing one star for each of the original thirteen colonies.
Nevertheless, when the St. Gauden double eagle pieces were struck, 46 stars, one
for each of the 46 states at the time, were placed around the obverse rim. When
New Mexico and Arizona joined the Union in 1912, two additional stars were added.
The same procedure was followed with the Indian Head eagles of 1907-1933; 46
stars on the obverse edge until 1912, and two more stars added after that time.
Regarding the fifteen stars on the 1817 Newcomb-16 cent, there is no apparent
reason why the two additional stars were placed on that coin, in 1817, Mississippi
was admitted as the 20th state of the Union. Hence, it would have been illogical to
place only 15 stars on the cent. The extra two stars were most probably an
engraver's error.
Six-pointed stars are found on U.S. coins on the late 18th and early 19th
centuries. Their popularity with the U.S. coin designers of today is at a very low
point as evidenced by the fact that not one coin in the past 35 years has been issued
with six-pointed stars.
THE WREATH
A wreath appears on the reverse of all United States cents except the 1793
Chain cents. The wreath is part olive, part laurel; and sometimes it is regarded
as being both. Since the wreath on large cents is a composite, I will discuss both
the olive wreath and the laurel wreath at the same time.
The olive wreath primarily symbolizes peace, but it also signifies honor and
victory. The laurel wreath basically stands for victory and honor, but it symbolizes
peace too. In ancient Greece, the laurel wreath also stands for achievement in the
arts, primarily in poetry and song.
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The olive branch, as a symbol of peace, can be traced back to Greek
mythology. The Athenians had to choose the first gift to be given to man. They
were offered a horse by Poseidon and an olive branch by Athene. In ancient times,
the horse was used principally by soldiers. Later, horse racing developed, first
as charioteering, this being a sport designed from a battle technique. The prime
beasts of burden used on farms in those days were oxen and asses, horses being
too valuable in battle. Hence, the horse symbolized strength and courage to the
ancient Athenians.
As for the gift offered by Athene, the olive branch was to the Athenians a
symbol of peace and plenty. Olive oil was useful in lamps and in medicine. The oil
was also used to anoint athletes before they went into action. Olives and olive oil
also had great food value. All of these uses were for peaceful endeavors. Olives
were a main agricultural product, unknown in the Danube basin from which the
Greeks had come, but a happy discovery credited in the Greek isles to Athene,
goddess of Wisdom. The olive branch, with its wide variety of uses, was regarded
as a gift of the gods and was chosen in place of the horse as offered by Poseidon.
Since the olive was considered sacred to Athene, an olive branch crown was
awarded to each victor in the games held in her honor. At the Olympian games,
the highest award that could be attained was a crown of wild olive leaves. In the
Greek and Roman eras, the olive branch was sometimes rewarded for military
valor, although it was less often awarded in this respect than was the oak or
laurel branch. The early Christians sometimes used an olive branch crown as the
reward for martyrdom.
The laurel wreath also can be traced back to Greek myth. While Apollo was
pursuing the nymph, Daphne, in the forest, she transformed herself into a laurel
tree to evade him. Through this incident, the laurel became sacred to Apollo; and
the laurel became the symbol of poetry and song, both of which were favorites of
Apollo, the sun god. The laurel was first used during a service at the Pythian games
held once in every eight years. The service consisted of a boy fleeing from Delphi
to Tempe, who, after a time, was led back with song, then crowned and adorned
with laurel. The laurel wreath was awarded at these same Pythian games to the
victors in each athletic event. Through these incidents, the laurel became the
symbol of triumph and honor.
Though the meaning of a laurel wreath was unknown to the general public in
colonial America, it had a very special meaning for those Founding Fathers who
were members of Freemasonry. Priestesses of Apollo at the Oracle of Delphi,
while making their prophecies, were said to chew laurel which acted as a sensitizer
and mild psychedelic. This myth was part of the Freemasonry ritual; and thus,
to these Founding Fathers, the laurel wreath meant divine inspiration. As a
symbol on our nation's coins, the wreath was intended to imply a sort of symbolic
plea to the cosmic forces for help when our nation was in need and to inspire our
leaders with ideas.
As a symbol on coins, the wreath can also be traced back to the ancient Greeks.
On the coins of Arcadia, one of the Greek provinces, the head of Hera, queen of
the goddesses, was depicted* Below her chin was a sprig of three olive leaves -
strikingly suggestive of a similar sprig on our Chain cents. It is of additional
interest to mention that, after the battle of Marathon which did so much to establish
the freedom of Greece, the helmet of the goddess Athene, as depicted on Athenian
coins, was crowned with a wreath of olive leaves, her sacred plant. This design was
continued for more than two centuries. Later, the olive wreath was enlarged,
being shown as formed of two stems with leaves and berries, the wreath being tied
at the bottom but open at the top. This arrangement, being very similar to that of
the Wreath cents of 1793, was used on the reverse of Greek coins. Crosby and
other numismatist authorities over the years have theorized that Joseph Wright,
the designer of the Wreath cent dies, used these ancient Greek coins as the basis
for the reverse of these aforementioned coins.
The laurel wreath on coins, like that of the olive wreath, can be traced back
to the ancient Greeks. There are several coins of Delphos, another Greek province,
which bore laurel wreaths and which were struck in the 4th century B.C. The laurel
wreath played a large part in the lives of Romans as well, and it is therefore re-
flected on many Roman coins* The custom of portraying emperors with laurel
wreaths, from Augustus to Napoleon III, was a way of saying that these leaders ruled
by divine favor and under divine inspiration. On early Republican coins, the head
of Jupiter, king of the gods, was adorned with a wreath of laurel.
Undoubtedly, the laurel wreath on U.S, large cents was adopted from these
ancient Greek and Roman coins. On a tetradrachm from the coinage of Sulla,
struck in 86-84 B.C. , there is a laurel wreath quite similar to that on the large
cents.
Both the olive and laurel wreaths are international symbols of peace, victory,
and honor. They have been used as such since the time of the ancient Greeks and
are still so used until this very day. There is an old saying: "He is resting on his
laurels", meaning that a person has in some manner achieved greatness and is now
sitting back and accepting all the tributes paid to him rather than trying to accomplish
more.
On the reverse of the Eisenhower dollar, an A m erican eagle is seen clutching an
olive branch over the surface of the moon, symbolizing that man and America came to
the moon in peace. The olive and laurel wreaths, these two symbols of peace - triumph
and honor, will surely continue to exist so long as man inhabits this earth.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Breen, Walter, and Lynn Glaser "Miss Liberty's American Debut"
NUMISMATIC JOURNAL, No. 2, November, 1961.
Cleveland PLAIN DEALER "Origin of the Liberty Cap on Coins"
reported in THE NUMISMATIST, April, 1926.
"Different Stars on United States Coins" THE NUMISMATIST, October-November,
1910.
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Crosby, Sylvester S. "The Cents of 1793" as reprinted in the Pearl collection
catalog. Numismatic Gallery, NYC, 1944.
Donald, Harold "Symbols on Coins" West Valley Coin Club BULLETIN No. 9,
September, 1970.
Lapp, Warren A. "The Story Behind the Liberty Cap" PENNY-WISE 1967.
Liberty Cap Motel, "The Liberty Cap" Sturbridge, Mass. 1971.
McDonald, George COIN TYPES, THEIR ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT, BEING
THE RHIND LECTURES FOR 1904. James Macelhouse & Sons, Glasgow,
Scotland, 1905.
Newcomb, Howard UNITED STATES COPPER CENTS, 1816-1857 3rd Ed.
Numismatic Review, NYC, 1963,
Sheldon, William H. et al PENNY WHIMSY Harper & Row, N.Y.C. 1958.
Walsh, William "Liberty Cap" THE NUMISMATIST June, 1954.
Whittick SYMBOLS, SIGNS, AND THEIR MEANINGS Leonard Hill, Ltd.,
London, 1960.
Wright, John D. "Answers to the Previous Penny-Quiz" PENNY-WISE 1969.
Also - Conversations and/or correspondence with
Breen, Walter Nielsen, Dane B.
Burress, Rod Palmer, Darwin B.
Lapp, Dr. Warren A.
The author is indebted to the following for the photographic plates included with
this article:
American Numismatic Society Meghrig, Alan
Malter, Joel Wright, John D.
"THE NATIVES ARE RESTLESS."
(So says Bill Parks. )
The following are the changes of address since our last issue:
Bruce Tucker
Barton M, Leaf
Michael A. Graham
Malcolm Varner
David W. Fischer
John E. Borhek
R. L. McArthy
Edward R. Sarhan
11950 N.E. Second Ave. , #317, North Miami, Florida 33161
2040-A Lancaster Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35209
5119 Borland Road, Los Angeles, California 90032
P. O. Box 8421, San Marino, California 91108
5117C Scarsdale Drive, Kettering, Ohio 45440
Herring Way, East Sandwich, Massachusetts 02537
4105 Minstrell Lane, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
11720 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Miami, Florida 33161
NEW MEMBERS
"Chuck" Furjanic P. O. Box 8739, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15221
W. J. Macomber 8811 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19136
Ronald E. Janowsky 1646 Kemble Street, Utica, New York 13501
- 182 -
THE PHRYGIAN CAP, THE PILEUS .
AND THE LIBERTY CAP
John D. Wright
Most references mention the origin of the cap now commonly called "Liberty Cap"
as being in ancient Phrygia, a sun-baked land just east of Lydia, the birthplace of
coinage. They then pass on to Roman times, the Roman name for "this" cap, its
use in the Roman slave-freeing ceremony, and subsequent history to today. The
best concise telling of the traditional story that I have seen was by Herb Silberman
in P-W 3 ("way back" in December 67).
But if I had nothing to add to Herb's excellent rendition, I wouldn't be wasting my
time in writing this, or yours in reading it. I intend to show that the old, accepted
equation "Phrygian Cap equals Pileus equals Liberty Cap" in invalid. We shan't
bother with the details of where the divergence came about, being content merely
to show that the currently- accepted Liberty Cap, like most people we prefer to
associate with, had TWO known parents rather than one.
As in today's world, the Greeks were a heterogeneous lot, with dress customs as
different as those of an Arab and a Dutch farmer. The headgear depicted on Greek
coinage reflects this diversity, and includes an assortment of helmets, laurel, oak,
and ivy garlands, fillets, other assorted headbands, diadems and/or veils (for the
ladies), and the four common caps discussed herein.
PETASUS
(PET’u*sus)
This is a low-crowned, rounded hat of some firm material, usually with a fairly
wide brim. The petasus is occasionally called the "sun hat", and is worn by
Hermes (Mercury), messenger of the Gods. It apparently originated around Thrace
before 450 BC, and later was adopted and improved by the Romans. One Roman
version is the familiar tropical pith helmet of today. The most recent appearance of
the original Petasus is the U. S. helmet of WWI, although Greek peasants still wear
a descendent of this sun hat.
STEPHANOS
(STEF*e*nos )
This is a "pillbox" hat for ladies, with a rigid circular side and a fabric (or
usually open) top. The Stephanos was of equal height all the way around. Its first
appearance on coins was around the town of Elis in the Greek peloponnesus before
420 BC. Its use spread eastward to the Black Sea, appearing on coins of over
eight city-states over the next hundred-year period.
A development from the Stephanos, called a "Stephane" (STEF*e*nee) was higher
in front than at the sides. Later developments included deletion of the top and back.
The Stephane, both with and without a head-covering veil, continued into Roman
time and beyond to the coins of today.
- 183 -
V
- 184 -
.0 Rom*
The preseat-day Stephaae is called a "tiara", or a "coronet". This descendent of
the Stephanos appears on nine different designs and nine different denominations of
regular-issue United States coins.
PHRYGIAN CAP
(FRIJ*e*un CAP)
The Phrygian Cap is a soft cloth affair with enough excess height that it lays over
forward (usually) on top of the head. The original cap had a short train to protect
the wearer's neck from the sun. This cap, called a "Cyrbrasia" (sur* BRY*ze*uh),
or a "Satrapal Headdress", originated in Phrygia or further east, in Persia, well
before 410 BC.
Ihe cap has a distinctively middle -eastern, slightly oriental flavor, and appeared
on the fourth-century BC coinage of at least three countries bordering Phrygia.
Carthage appears to have been the only western city to pick up this design, probably
from the Persian influence in Phoenicia. (Carthage was a colony of Phoenicia. )
This cap, with the deletion of the necktrain, is commonly known today as a "Liberty
Cap , appearing on nine different designs and seven denominations of regular-issue
United States coins. All United States Liberty Caps depicted as being worn are
Cyrbrasia, with the exception of those on the earliest U.S. gold coins.
Breen unearthed a letter from Samuel Moore (mint director) written in 1825, which
claimed that neither the pointed caps (1795-1807 gold) nor the "turbans" (1808-1834
gold, 1807-1839 silver) were intended as "Liberty Caps". His high office notwith-
standing, I cannot subscribe to this claim. Moore's information was second-hand and
was nested among a number of other provable inaccuracies. Both of these designs
are considered in this discussion as Liberty Caps.
PILE US
(PILL*ee*us)
The Pileus is a conical felt cap, stiff enough to stand erect. A Pileus may or may
not have a narrow brim, the most practical being those with. Pileii today are sold
for a few dollars as "hiking hats" or "alpine hats", generally with a bright feather
stuck in them.
The Pileus originated in the same general neighborhood as the Cyrbrasia (Phrygian
Cap), appearing first on the coins of Lampsacus in Mysia (a north-western
neighbor to Phrygia) in 394 BC. At that time coins with the Cyrbrasia had been
produced for almost twenty years in Cyzecus, a mere sixty miles from Lampsacus.
Some hundred years later this design began to appear on the coins of Greek colonies
on the toe and heel of Italy -- copied, no doubt, from the caps of Lampsacus. Later,
when Rome copied the ideas of the south, the 2500 miles and well over 100 years
to the source may have been enough to cloud the distinction between the Pileus and
the Phrygian Cap, though I doubt it. The cap copied by the Romans and used in their
ceremonies was the Pileus, not the Cyrbrasia.
- 185 -
Since Homan days the Pileus has been adopted by many countries and many crusades
as their emblem for Liberty. Besides numerous appearances elsewhere, the
Pileus has appeared on three different designs and eleven different denominations
for regular-issue United States coins. All United States Liberty Caps depicted on
poles are Pileii.
It is possible, though doubtful, that the distinction between the Cyrbrasia and the
Pileus was lost on the road to Home. More likely, the distinction faded during
the succeeding two thousand years. Then again, maybe the Pileus is the only old-
time Liberty Cap, with the Cyrbrasia assuming that role only within the last few
centuries.
At any rate, the distinction is not now made, though it is still very real. Today,
both the Pileus and the Phrygian Cap are accepted symbols for Liberty.
Since use and acceptance are the only true tests of a symbol, we can only conclude
that, although a Phrygian Cap and a Pileus are different, they are both parents of
the Liberty Cap; and two seems a good number for such things.
*************
The following item was clipped by Dr. William E. Hopkins from the Wednesday
morning, July 28th edition of The Louisville COUHIEH-JOURNAL and forwarded
to your editor for use in P-W:
"BROWN-FORMAN NAMES NEW CHAIRMAN"
by Phil Norman, Courier Journal Business Writer
There was something of a changing of the guard yesterday at Brown-Forman
Distillers Corp. , with a new generation of Browns moving up in the major distillery
that has been doing business in Louisville for more than 100 years.
The changes came as W. L. Lyons Brown, 65, grandson of the company's
founder George Garvin Brown, announced his retirement as Board Chairman after
38 years with the company.
He was succeeded by Robinson 8. Brown, Jr. , his cousin, 54, who has been
serving as executive vice-president and director of marketing. Robinson S.
Brown, Jr., who joined the company in 1935, has served also in sales, advertising,
personnel, and public relations.
William F. Lucas, 60, the company's president and chief executive officer,
observed that Brown-Forman, which ranks sixth among the nation's largest
distilleries, had sales of $222,567,294. in its last fiscal year."
EAC congratulations Robbie for this new and well-deserved honor and
wishes him the very best for the future ! Robbie has been the Vice President of the
EAC since the inception of the organization.
*************
PENNY QUIZ ERRATA
John D. Wright
Alan Meghrig and Paul Munson both leaped on a couple of my faux pas ’
in the PQA last time. Two of my answers require amplification.
Q4: More $-value struck in cents than all else: Both Alan and Paul questioned
my 1816 presentation, but for opposite reasons. Alan questioned my leav-
ing out the 20,003 quarter-dollars delivered on January 10, 1816; and Paul
questioned my including the 47,150 half dollars delivered the same date.
I included the halves "for safety's sake" and I omitted the quarters through
an oversight. In this case, I have to side with Paul. A more complete ex-
position of this situation was presented by Breen in his SILVER COINAGES
OF THE PHILADELPHIA MINT 1794-1916 (CCJ 159, 1958) and is
excerpted below.
"Dec. 16, 1815. Coiner delivered 69, 232 quarter dollars.
Dec. 31. In Coiner's hands: $46,205. in silver. This evidently
included the above quarter dollars and the Jones & Fitch deposit,
but the Journal through oversight did not identify the silver as
coined or uncoined. Annual inventory in progress.
Jan. 10, 1816. Mint re-opened for business. Coiner delivered
47,150 half dollars and 20,003 quarter dollars, total $28,575.75,
or enough to pay off the Jones & Fitch deposit.
Jan. 11. Mint burned; apparatus for rolling gold and silver into
strips from which planchets were cut, sufficiently damaged to
preclude any further precious-metal coinage. Amount of
bullion thereafter deposited negligible until 1818 when repairs
were complete.
There is every reason to believe that the coinage reported for 1816
was from 1815 dies, and some evidence that it was made in 1815 but
not reported out because of the Mint's customary shutdown at year's
end for settling accounts, taking inventory, and making up the annual
Director's Reports; this explains why the other depositors were not
paid off until Jan. 10, 1816. "
Q7: Smallest U.S. cent legend. My use of "legend" as "UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA" only was in error. A legend is any writing placed circum-
ferentially on the face of a coin. Hence, both the "E PLUSIBUS UNUM"
and the "IN GOD WE TRUST" on a wheat-ear cent are legends. Either of
these is smaller than the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on the Flying
Eagle cents. Alan leaped on this one with both feet.
*************
- 187 -
A VISIT TO CALIFORNIA, July 24-28, 1971
Darwin B. Palmer, Jr.
After reading in PENNY-WISE about previous west coast EAC meetings, it
didn't require much arm twisting for me to accept Dane Nielsen's kind invitation "to
fly out to L.A. and spend a few days talking cents". How better could I spend a short
vacation ?
Arriving at 10:15 A.M. on Saturday, July 24, I spied Dane waiting for me as the
passengers and I exited from the flight. As soon as Dane and I met, we started talk-
ing about large cents and cent collectors (as well as ecology, geology, and zoology);
and we hardly stopped for the next four days.
Since both Dane and I were interested in seeing if any large cent errors would
show up at an Errors Show in Studio City, we dropped off my paraphernalia at Dane's
home; grabbed a fast lunch which his wife, Sherry, prepared for us; and then sped
away in Dane's VW. A short while later, we were at the Error Show. Just as we
walked in, Jeff Oliphant was leaving and he said that he had not seen any R6 or R7
cents. Not long after, while I was looking at some 1802 cents, I noticed someone
looking over my shoulder and comparing the cents with Dr. Sheldon's PENNY
WHIMSY. The onlooker turned out to be Alan Meghrig. At the show, I bought an
1801 S-220 which was away-off center with no date visible. It had been dealer-
marked as an 1802 S-228. I also picked up an 1838 N-13b which Breen stated as be-
ing R8 in PENNY-WISE (Vol. IV, No. 4, p. 145). However, Dane and I soon found
out that the interesting cent errors such as double strikes, brockages, and those
away-off center were all priced too high for our whims.
The Big Event - a regional EAC meeting - came next, and it attracted the
following to Dane's home: Glenn Kemp; Paul and Jeff Oliphant; Mai Varner and
Mike Graham who formerly operated Hillcrest Enterprises; Alan Meghrig; Marty
Post; Jack Collins, Jim Goudge; and Dane and me. Sherry Nielsen, before she
went visiting, left us a bunch of goodies to devour during the evening.
It seemed as if everyone present had one or more things to share with all the
others who attended. Jack Collins exhibited his choice Late Dates, each of which
was in a typewritten envelope on a beautiful tray lined with black velvet. Jack’s
favorites (and rightly so) are his very nice array of 1816 and 1817 cents. Jack goes
for condition and pedigree rather than for completeness of a series. Dane featured
a fine exhibit of choice 1794's, plus some die maker's errors such as the corrected
fraction (S-249), error fraction (S-228), and the missing fraction bar (S-64). All
were as nice as one could ask for. Later, we all participated in a grading quiz
which consisted of ten large cents ranging in grade from AGS to AU50. Everyone
had fun !
Sunday, July 25, Dane and I brought out our boxes of cents and I studied
Dane's collection while he examined mine. Later on, I practiced grading and
attributing his Liberty Caps. I wasn't quite as bad at grading the Caps as I thought
I would be; and I really enjoyed the opportunity to add to my experience.
- 188 -
On Monday, July 26, Dane and I visited several coin shops in the area,
including Bowers and Ruddy Galleries, which is as pleasant and professional as
its owners, I picked up an S-110, an S-245 with the heavy die break at RICA on
the reverse, and an S-263 for my die study. That night, we went to the Oliphant's
home to see their cents and to chat again with cents collectors. The Oliphants seem
to concentrate on Sheldon R6 and R5 varieties. There was also supposed to be a
Late Date Whist match between two Newcomb variety enthusiasts. However, one of
the fellows left his cents home, for some reason or other, and the match had to be
postponed. The "forgetful" one looked over the challenger's collection and passed
the remark that "one stood a great possibility of contracting rabies, judging from
all the dogs present". This type of remark probably helps to justify collecting only
high condition cents as opposed to completing a collection in the best grades avail-
able at the time.
On Tuesday, July 27, Dane and I and the Oliphants drove to A-Mark to look
over their 1793's. They really had them ! - called VF, XF, and AU, but each coin
was either scraped, burnished, hair re-engraved, letters and date strengthened, re-
colored, or any combination of the above. Such seems to be the case with many
1793's in numismatic circulation. Later, at another small coin shop, we turned up
an S-142, Because of Lane's work on the 1797's and my familiarity with that
particular variety, we both attributed the coin in less than a second. I wish that I
could that for all the Sheldon varieties !
All in all, my visit with Dane was a fantastic experience, and I shall never
forget the California collectors whom I met. Dane was very energetic in organizing
this meeting as he had done for several previous local meetings. I can understand
why some collectors are unable to attend all the meetings which are held, but I
surely can't understand why some of the California collectors couldn't at least ac-
knowledge an invitation. Maybe we have a listing of incorrect addresses; but more
likely, we have people who have never been to an EAC gathering and just don't
appreciate how fantastic they are !
*************
MORE ON THE SALE OF THE MASTER'S COLLECTION
William R. T. Smith
There were three additional mis-attributions in the RARCOA catalog for the
Masters' sale:
Lot 249
1837
Listed as N-l
Was N-3
Lot 252
1837
N-9
N-ll
Lot 287
1853
N-14
N-25
The three lots listed above as well as the four lots listed by John Wright in
the last issue of PENNY-WISE were identified to me by RARCOA before the sale.
However, the attribution error on the 1794 S-19b came as a complete surprise to
RARCOA.
RARCOA said that the seven errors of attribution in the Newcomb series had
appeared because the Late Date attributions, as submitted by the owner, were not
checked prior to submission of the catalog for publication.
The collection had been consigned to RARCOA for auction by another Chicago
dealer who had previously purchased the collection.
-1 £Q-
THE ANA CONVENTION IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Herbert A, Silberman
The Washington A. N.A. Convention was wild! In the entire bourse there wasn't
a cherry to be picked in the large cent field, and at least fifteen of our EAC members
were looking for all five days of the meeting. Del Bland found a couple of Late Date
cents and some half cents, but that was about all. The 1793's in very top conditions
were in great abundance as were some 1845's and 1850's. Late Dates were said to
be quite plentiful, but there were no rare ones so far as I know.
Lillian Willins, one of our very few female members, had decided to sell her
S-217 in condition-20 (a beautiful and rare coin), and she chose a most unique way.
She set a fixed and firm price and had everyone who was interested in buying it put
his name on any one of a number of identical slips. Then a slip was drawn, and the
winner was a famous East Coast collector who trumped against the nine-to-one odds
and beat out at least eight very sad gamblers. This all happened in my hotel room
where the following met on Friday night: Doug Smith, Del Bland, Mel Varner, George
Ramont, Randall Schweitzer, Louis Helfenste in, Willard C. Blaisdell, RayMunde,
Jon Hanson, Denis Loring, Roger Cohen, Gordon Wrubel, Jules Reiver, Charles Ruby,
Lillian Willins, Jim Mace, William Zamulinsky, Jackson Storm, Roger Storm, Walter
Breen, James Gouge, our treasurer (my wife) and me. There must have been others,
and if I have left anyone out, I apologize, but in the tiny hotel room even breathing was
difficult.
Doug Smith and Denis Loring combined to exhibit a set of six matched "twins"
such as the S-19a and b and other dies of some extremely rare coins, each matching
in grade and color. Storm had some exquisite 1798's and Doug Smith announced to
all that he's starting to collect 1794's now. Del Bland showed an 1822 which had such
a mirror-like surface that it defied bettering, even in proof. Denis was a busy fellow
and he may have talked one of the collectors out of an NC for his constantly-growing
collection.
This is a rather mixed-up review I faintly remember a sit-down dinner
which was attended by at least twenty EAC members and included Lester Merkin and
Allen Corson. Allen was on hand, touting the F.U.N. Convention scheduled for
January, 1972 in Miami, which should be a dilly!
Twenty-eight members of the New York Numismatic Club attended the ANA
meeting, whereas their meeting in August was attended by only six members. Most
of the New Jersey numismatic groups were well represented, along with some 120-
odd dealers, among which there were no major firms missing. All in all, it made for
a friendly, if not a rewarding, "cent-wise" convention.
Louis Helfenstein stayed quite late in my room, and along with Breen and
some others, they made some exhilarating conversation. Ramont exhibited his large
cents collection, and the spread was really impressive. About 12 midnight, the
large group broke up into separate meetings in other rooms, where trading and talk-
ing continued until about 3 A.M.
- 190 -
DENIS LORING REPORTS ON THE ANA MEETING:
Dear People: Yours truly has returned from the ANA. I'm afraid that the
meeting wasn't quite like last time, as I didn't turn up any new variety; but it was
a ball of fin nonetheless- Here's a report of the goings-on:
MONDAY: I arrived at the Washington Hilton around 9:45 A.M. , just in time to check
m, pick up my badge, and slip down to the PNG bourse. There was absolutely
NOTHING - in fact, I can't remember ever having been to a show of this magnitude
and seeing fewer nice early cents. It looked bad for the cherrypickers. My freshly-
arrived roomie, Gordon Wrubel, showed up about this time, and we travelled together
for a while, but the pickings just weren't there. Later, we came across Del Bland.
The day ended with the usual buy-sell-swap session in the Loring- Wrubel head-
quarters. Early to bed better luck tomorrow!
TUESDAY: The bourse opened 15 minutes late, much to the consternation of the
eeming throng at the starting gate. As we were soon to learn, there were many nice
Late Date cents waiting to be snapped up, but the Early Date cents were hard to find,
om Werner had the nicest selection: by convention's end, he had pleased several
. erSo The 1793 Wreath cents abounded - there were over a hundred of them on the
Door, most of them going begging. As far as I know, there was only one R7 Early
Date purchased at the entire bourse: a 1798 S-183, G6, which sold for a modest $13.50
Lots of EAC members arrived today - Paul Munson, Jules Reiver, George
Ramont, and Jack Storm, among others. Soon to follow were Willard C. Blaisdell,
alter Breen, President Herb Silberman, Doug Smith, Enoch Blackwell, Dan Boiler,
harles Ruby, and many others, including the living legend, Louis Helfenstein.
Another to arrive was Mrs. Lillian Willins of Maine, who was soon to drop the bomb-
shell of the convention.
On Tuesday evening, Jules and I played Old Cent Whist with the 1796's, and I
was a 6 point winner in a closely-fought match.
WEDNESDAY: Already the days have started to run tonto each other. Del Bland
and I spent a few hours going through five boxes of WCB duplicates and we each
emerged with a handful. There was more bourse hunting but no results. One coin
deserves mention as the tragedy of the show: a 1793 Liberty Cap on a beautiful,
light-and-dark brown-streaked planchet. The entire obverse had been re-tooled:
hair, face, and cap. Without any re-tooling the coin would have graded at least a Fine.
I almost cried when I turned over the coin - an S-12-K ! ! ! Why do people do these
things ?
* n evenin S> Jules and I met in the Reiver-Ramont chambers for Whist on
1797, with Jules the winner on the strength of a staggering number of 2-1 scores.
During the later evening, Del produced the find of the show: an 1818 N-4, VF25,
CC 2 or 3. One look at Jules' eyes and all of us knew that Del would never leave the
room until Jules had made the coin his. Fortunately, Del realized it too.
** ***** ****
THURSDAY: More of the same - buying, .selling, trading, looking. By this time it
was clear that the convention could be renamed the Del Bland show - just about
everything was falling his way. Today's finds included an 1818 N-2 AU55, CC-2,
and an 1816 N-l in VF, as well as many MS gems in the later dates. Del shared his
good fortune the way he always does: he's a rare breed of dealer!
We met again in Jules' room for more penny talk. It was there that Mrs.
Willins, attending an EAC gathering for the first time, dropped her bombshell - she
had an 1801 S-217, VF 20 or 25, FOR SALE. Pandemonium reigned supreme.
Many of us wanted the coin - who would get it, and for how much? The ultimate
decision was reached. A price was set, and the buyer would be decided by lot at the
EAC meeting on Friday night.
FRIDAY: We all looked forward to the EAC meeting with eager anticipation, so much
so that we decided to have a pre-meeting dinner in the hotel. The dinner was well
attended, with the conversation ranging from cents to taxes to architecture to Klein
bottles sitting in 4-dimensional space.
The meeting was held in the hastily- re-arranged Silberman suite with
EACers jamming every available corner. Doug Smith and I exhibited a collection of
"twinsies", featuring such pairs as the 1794 S-19a and b in VG8; the 1803 3-264 in
early and late dies states in VG10; and a pair of Fair-2 Jefferson Heads, one plain
edge (S-80) and one lettered edge (NCI).
Finally the moment arrived - the lottery for the S-217. Into the basket went
the slips of paper, and out came the name of a well-known East Coast collector!
We all congratulated the lucky fellow - his smile was visible for a thousand miles.
SATURDAY: This was the saddest day, because we all had to leave for home, but
we vowed to return to the next ANA convention if at all possible. Yes - EAC had
met again! The glow still lingers.
This has been but a capsule summary of some of the show's highlights. Much,
much more could be added: George Ramont's fantastic exhibit of cents from his
collection; the Gilroy S-l changing hands for $5,000. ; a $12,000. collection of cents
which was broken up among EACers; photos of Enoch Blackwell's newest prizes: a
1796 NC4 in F12 and an 1800 NC4 in AG3. One can go on and on. Words just can't
do it true justice - you have to be there to see for yourself. I'm glad that I was !
*************
**************gjjYING COUNTER3TAMPED U.S. LARGE CENTS **************
*
Send unwanted c/s U.S. Lg £ — invoiced, insured — for offer. Both *
Sheldon and Newcomb items; also oddities. Held seven days pending
agreement. Postage refunded on buys. Slowest check in U.S. Free
attributions, you pay ret. post. & ins.
*** ALLEN CORSON, BOX 261, MIAMI, FLA. 33138.. EAC #155, ANA, ANS ***
- 192 -
HALF CENTS - VARIETIES AND KEYS
William R, T. Smith
I would like to suggest some extensions of the listings usually made for the
early half cent series from 1793 to 1811* 1825 and 1826 are also included, because
they each have one common and one scarce variety. These extensions are made with
several purposes in mind:
(1) to put some life into several dates, not only by identification of distinct die
varieties but by providing an easy key to the attribution of scarce varieties. This is
especially relevant for 1794 and 1803, where only the dates are usually specified in
catalogues and advertisements. To a lesser degree, the same might be said for 1793,
but it won't be said because only a few can afford more than one of that date;
(2) to flush out some of the unattributed specimens of these scarce varieties now
held by type or date collectors or in dealers' stocks. This could make scarce
varieties less difficult to find or less costly to acquire. On the other hand, it might
turn some of these collectors into die variety collectors and put some of the more
common varieties in greater demand; and
(3) to simplify the attribution of scarce and rare varieties for the cherrypicker with
a short memory, especially the one who feels that carrying around a reference book
would be too awkward or slow, involve a loss of pride or confidence, and might de-
crease one's bargaining position.
The general rule followed in making identifications beyond those in the Guide
Book is to focus on one additional parameter or area of the coin which will spring
loose the scarcer varieties (exception - 1803 ). A single asterisk (* ) is used to
denote a scarce coin or the scarcest variety, while a double asterisk ( ** ) implies a
rare or very rare variety. Only those varieties listed in Gilbert are covered and
are identified by number. New varieties have been discovered for 1804, 1806,
1808/7, and 1809.
If you are not a half cent collector and have bothered to read this far, please
read on and let me know if you find any of the ** items.
1793
14 leaves on right branch
G-2
15 leaves on right branch
G-l,
*16 leaves on right branch
G-4
1794
Small head, 8 berry reverse
G-l
** Small head, 11 berry reverse
G-3
**Small head, 12 berry reverse
G-2
Large head, 8 berry reverse
G-9
Large head, 9 berry reverse
G-5
Large head, 11 berry reverse
G-8
Large head, 12 berry reverse
G-4,
- 193 -
1795
Plain edge, no pole, 7 berry reverse
G-6
Plain edge, no pole, 9 berry reverse
G-5
Plain edge, punctuated date, 7 berry reverse
G-4
**Plain edge, punctuated date, 8 berry reverse
G-8
** Plain edge, punctuated date, 9 berry reverse
G-7
1797
*Plain edge, low head
G-2
Plain edge, high head
G-3
1803
*11 berry reverse
G-l
* Large fraction
G-4
Large fraction, break from right stem
G-2
Ciphers in denominator very close
G-3
1804
Spike Chin
G-7
Spike Chin, break from right stem
G-8
** Spike Chin, triple leaf under left stand of F
G-9
*Spike Chin, wide denominator
G-ll
Crosslet4, Stems
G-4, G-5, G-6
**Crosslet4, Stems, low 4
G-10
1805
** Small 5, Stems
G-4
*Small 5, Stems, break from final A
G-3
1809
* Perfect Date, Curl over 09
G-3
Perfect Date, Curl over 0
G-2, G-4
1811
Close Date
G-l
* Wide Date
G-2
1825
Curl over 25
G-l
*Curl over 5
G-2
1826
High leaf under S
G-l
*High leaf past S
G-2
I hope that the above organization of these keys will provide some help to
those of you who collect half cents. Personally, I have spent more time recently
on my large cent collection, but I collect half cents as well and at times I find
them to be a nice change of pace. All I need to do is to start browsing through my
copy of the Brobston Sale catalogue, and the half cent bug bites again !
*************
THE NEW GUIDE BOOK: A REVIEW
John D. Wright
By now, most of us have had a chance to become familiar with the new 25th
GUIDE BOOK OF UNITED STATES COINS. For you few who have not, GO BUY
ONE ! While any book could be improved in some way, the new RED BOOK has in-
corporated so many improvements that it truly deserves the label "new".
Apparently, for the first time, Whitman has given serious attention to, and has
actually sought out the suggestions of several specialty groups. The suggestions sub-
mitted by members of the EAC have been followed extensively for the large cent
series, and Dr. Lapp ( representing the EAC) is listed among the contributors on
page 3. The half dollar series has also been completely revamped, following
suggestions from Stew Witham, Paul Munson, A1 Overton, and others. Apparently
even the FIDO buffs have been allowed their say, judging from the multitude of new
"over-mintmark" listings.
The highly-touted "market analysis" instituted last year with an undigested
table of uninteresting raw data has become a true analysis. It covers comm emo rat ives
this year.
The avowed impetus behind such a complete about-face from the status quo
revered so long by Whitman is their "Silver Anniversary (25th) Edition", though I
imagine the stiff competition of Reed’s COWLES COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA and
Taxay's even better SCOTT'S COMPREHENSIVE CATALOG AND ENCYCLOPEDIA
influenced their decision at least a little. Several of the better features of both these
books are incorporated into the new GUIDE BOOK.
Suggestions for improvement will be confined to our particular interest - the
large cent section.
1. If the "starred reverse" is listed, it should be priced. The coin, while
rare, is not so rare as a "no price" would imply. Most dealers, on offering
an "unpriced" coin in any grade, immediately think in four figures.
2. A more definitive difference between "first reverse" and "third reverse"
would prove helpful (pp 68-69).
3. Enlarged cuts for dates, fractions, hair would prove more usable than
the present cuts (pp 69-72).
4. Several illustrations are from worn-out plates and need to be replaced
for clarity (pp 67-78).
5. Several whole-coin illustrations in the 1816-1828 and 1840-1857 periods
could better illustrate their points with enlarged cuts. The resultant saving of
space could be used for additional cuts for the 1803 and 1807 listings.
- 195 -
6. An "XF" column is needed for 1816-1857. This is a commonly-seen
grade for this series, and the price differential between VF and MS is too
great for normal "fudging in".
Ken Bressett has done truly and admirable job of rewriting the book. The ex-
tensive use of specialty suggestions has, besides improving the product, trans-
formed the new GUIDE BOOK from a "they" book to a "we" book.
With six to eight months to work on it, I'm certain that the EAC can provide
the necessary photographs or negatives for Whitman to use in an even better 26th
edition.
*************
REPORT FROM "COIN WORLD"
COIN WORLD for July 21, 1971 had the following to say about the Red Book revision:
"The large cent section has undergone a complete face lifting, primarily due
to the efforts of the Early American Coppers Club, whose members made a joint
effort to reorganize listings and information, and to determine which varieties should
be listed for the greatest benefit to collectors. Here again, varieties deleted from
the list are as noteworthy as those added.
The rearranged listing and new photographs, especially enlargements of
overdates, will add greatly to the usefulness and clarity of this section.
Values of Early Date cents have risen slightly, especially rare varieties and
coins in higher grade condition. The later, more common dates remain steady or
with only slight upward changes in value. "
WHAT HATH EAC WROUGHT?
THE 1972 GUIDE BOOK - A DISSENTING VIEW
William R. T. Smith
I recently purchased a copy of the new 1972 GUIDE BOOK, just to see what
had been done to the section on large cents. From previous issues of PENNY-
WISE, it was my understanding that some of our members had contributed to this
revision. The large cent section, however, proved to be a big disappointment to
me. I had anticipated several changes based on PENNY-WISE material: lumping
together of the S-llb and S-llc; adding the 3-48; lumping together the S-266 a,
b, andc; dropping the 1833 LL; and adding the 1834 N-5. As you can see, I
wasn't very happy with the changes which were made for the following reasons:
1. Most collectors start out by buying the GUIDE BOOK prior to reading Sheldon
or Newcomb. The organization of material in the GUIDE BOOK can serve the
purpose of interesting the novice collector in the series as it is presented and in
identifying that more varieties do exist, Much of the interest that we have in large
- 196 -
cents stems from the number of varieties that exist within any segment of the entire
series. Varieties are something to advertise. Instead of increasing the count of
varieties, it was decreased. Excluding the die states of the S-266, 15 varieties were
dropped and only 5 were added. Other series such as bust half dollars and Morgan
silver dollars have attracted great interest because die varieties have been
'discovered' by collectors and listed in the GUIDE BOOK.
In particular, I felt that the Newcomb series needed a shot in the arm by
identifying more, rather than fewer, varieties. This may not be easy in the latter
part of the series where varieties are identified only after tedious study, but it
certainly can be done in the earlier part of the series. One technique which might be
useful would be to identify the number of varieties of a type that are known to the
specialist. I discovered that this was done in early STANDARD CATALOGUES. For
example, 1796 LIHERTY, 1801 Three Errors, and 1824 Over 22 could each be followed
with ’two varieties'. I can't think of a simpler device for transmitting infectious die-
varietitis.
2. Rather than expanding upon historical description terminology, the terminology
in use for years was discarded and replaced with identifications which are rather
clinical for GUIDE BOOK-level reading.
3. Many of the changes seem inconsistent:
(a) Close dates and Wide dates were dropped in 1798 Rev. of /96, 1817, 1821,
and 1822, but not in 1826. Perhaps dropping the 1826 Over 25 was enough
punishment for 1826. CD's and WD's need a good lawyer.
(b) Large dales and Small dates of 1798 were converted into hair styles al-
though the correspondence is not exact (large dates have Style 1 hair except for
the three whisker varieties S-185, 166, and 167) and the 1812's were merged
while 1803 was thankfully spared and 1846 plods on with a medium-sized date as
well.
(c) Blunt l's and perfect l's lost out in 1801 and 1805 but were spared again
in 1803. 1803 must have a good lawyer but obviously a poor photographer.
One of the least understood distinctions among dealers as a whole has been
that between the 1803 Large date and Small date. The new GUIDE BOOK
doesn't help at all.
(d) Single and double leaf reverses are distinguished for 1796, 1797, and
1798 but not for 1795 as that year saw its familiar "ONE CENT high" and
"ONE CENT low" varieties delisted.
(e) The 1847 Over 7 doesn't merit special attention out of all the overdates
and recut dates listed in John Wright's fine article.
(f) Several "variety locations" were dropped while others were retained.
Edges (in part) and fraction bars were victimized. Again, the interest in
varieties depends upon the many kinds of varieties, not just many varieties of
the same type. The date location varieties of Indian Head cents have never
really caught on (nor have Late Date post-1843 Newcombs).
(g) If the S-48 is to be included in the GUIDE BOOK, it should be priced.
After all, the S-48 is an R-6 and not a unique museum piece.
In general, I had hoped to see the representation of both the Sheldon and Newcomb
series expanded not only in the number of listings but also in the quality and usefulness
of the photographs. Therefore, I was diasppointed with the large cent section as it
had been revised. I hope that I'm not alone. "
-197-
John Wright answered Bill Smith's criticisms as follows:
"Bear Bill:
I read your GUIDE BOOK critique with interest. Had it been eight months
earlier, more of its tenets may have been heeded. When I visited Dr. Lapp in
December, 1970, I studied all of the suggestions which had been sent in for revis-
ing the new GUIDE BOOK. I don't recall seeing yours there. My own suggestions
were the most extensive of the lot - you're speaking to the 'villain responsible for
this butchery’. Please allow me to counter several of your points:
1. We are not 'pushing' large cents. A 'shot in the arm' was not our intent
rather, a rational, understandable presentation of the series from the general,
casual, or less advanced viewpoint. I concur with your suggestions of "number of
varieties" for each listing, or at least for each year. I didn't think of this when
making my suggestions, nor, apparently did anyone else. Past actions of the
STANDARD CATALOGUE should not expected to be followed without specific
suggestions, as the STANDARD CATALOGUE was published by Wayte Raymond, not
Whitman.
2. The old descriptions were practically non-existent. While I agree that the new
are 'clinical', they are head and shoulders above the 'nothing' or the 'ambiguous'
which prevailed before.
3. Noted inconsistencies:
(a) I don't consider the dropping of Wide/ Close as 'punishment'. I advocated
either dropping same or adding new years to this class to alleviate the already-
existing inconsistency. Bressett chose the first alternative.
(b) The hair styles of 1798 are a more gross distinguishing feature than
the size of the 8-punch. The assumed equivalence 'large date - Style 1
hair' was not intended. The large/small distinction of 1812 is more a
feature of figure-style than of size, the size-difference being fairly minimal.
The three date-sizes of 1846 are easily distinguishable, although I would re-
commend date cuts to illustrate them.
(c) The blunt vs pointed 1 in 1801 is a minor difference of a broken punch.
The 1805 difference is greater, and I agree that it could have been preserved.
My recommendation was to either eliminate blunt/pointed 1 in 1801 or to carry
this distinction into the 1/000 and 3-error listings. The former course was
chosen. Again, an existing inconsistency was eliminated. The 1803 large
date is more than an unbroken punch. The difference here is gross. We shall
provide the needed cut for this date.
(d) The three reverse-types of 1795-8 could have been described a little
more clearly, which we hope to see remedied. In 1795, the high/central ONE
CENT is a gross difference on the plain-edge cents only, being rather high on
all the lettered-edge cents. Perhaps a better list might be: (1) LE, rx tp I;
- 198 -
(2) LE, rx tp II; (3) PE, 1^ high; (4) PE, 1$ central; (5) RE (unpriced);
(6) Jeff Hd.
(e) The 47/small 7 is one of the more apparent and interesting recuts of the
period, although I don't consider it anymore 'interesting' than the 1846 N-4,
1847 N-l, or the 1848 N-4. See the September 1969 NUMISMATIST, page 1212,
for the extent of the recutting on these.
(f ) I can't answer your point, since I don't know what your point is.
(g) I agree wholeheartedly, Breen submitted a list of proposed valuations
on the "starred reverse" (which was nowhere near the scalper's rate paid for
the Masters coin), though this list apparently got misplaced somewhere in the
shuffle.
4. One of the set parameters was 'no more pages’. A revision was desirable and
was accomplished. The allocated space could be filled with more discussion,
description, and pictures at the expense of some less spectacular listings or vice
versa. I consider it commendable that the former course was chosen. "
*************
COSTS FOR PUBLICATION AND MAILING OF "PENNY-WISE"
Have you ever wondered what it costs to produce a single issue of PENNY-WISE?
Here's the breakdown of expenses for the last three issues:
Typing and mimeographing
March 15
May 15
July 15
275 copies
$170.00
$152.00
$194.00
Collating and addressing
24.06
39.92
39.06
Plates and offset printing
49.92
- —
27.94
Postage
51.52
40.88
74.00
Total
$295.50
$232.80
$335.00
Cost of each copy
1.08
.90
1.22
All administrative expenses, costs of supplies, long distance telephone charges,
photocopy charges used to make mockups of each issue, postage, and various other
miscellaneous items - amounting to approximately $50. -$100. per month in addition -
are never charged to the club. They are borne by the personnel involved as out-of-
pocket expenses.
Is PENNY-WISE a bargain? We here at headquarters think so ! ! !
*************
PHOTO-PENNY QUIZ NO. 4
Ned Bush
The subject for this quiz is the Liberty Cap series. I hope that it will generate
a little more interest than the last P-PQ. The photography is gradually improving,
but we are still working to improve our technique. Any suggestions in this regard
will be appreciated.
For those not familiar with the P-PQ, the rules are simple: identify each
coin by Sheldon number and grade the coin. Send your responses to:
Edward ft. Bush
19 Northway Court
Anderson, Indiana 46011
No prizes are awarded for the best answers. However, you should get a lot of
satisfaction out of seeing how well you did in contrast with a panel of experts.
The subject for the next quiz will be the Coronet cents. I am mainly interested
in the Early Date cents, so I will need all the help which I can get in gathering a
wide variety of Coronet cents so that I can photograph them. Any help from the
members will be greatly appreciated.
1. Even dark brown. Finely porous rev., clean obv. Him dent over
first T in STATES.
2. Even medium brown, with high points darker brown. Three rev.
rim dents. Generally irregular rim on rev.
3. Dark brown obv. and rev. Rims clean, except for minor irregularities
on reverse.
4. Even dark brown surface. Minute rim irregularities on rev.
5. Medium brown surface. No rim injuries.
6. Poorly recolored, with Cap and bust brassy colored; brownish-black
background. Rim on rev. bruised; pitting on rev. even throughout.
*************
Ever study a blotter ? Very absorbing. — The Rat-Fink.
- 200 -
No. 3.
201
No. 4
No
No. 6.
- 202 -
THE TWO OLD LADIES IN GMY - A TRUE STORY
Paul W. Paterson
I like to attend local coin shows and to browse around the bourse tables, asking
"Got any Early Date large cents?" Every so often, I turn up a nice large cent which
is for sale at a fair price, and such a coin gets a change of ownership. While in-
dulging in this pastime, I have encountered many types of dealers, some young, some
old. A few seem to know a lot about 1950-D nickels, 1938-D halves, and the like.
Others seem to know how to grade and to price present day coins in general. But
percentagewise, there seem to be very few, particularly the older dealers, who have
any knowledge at all of large cents.
At a recent show, I met two young dealers who were partners. As things were
pretty dull at the moment, we got to chatting; and these two youngsters - perhaps
they were 23 or 24 - told me quite a story.
It seems that they knew of two coin dealers, Dave and Al, who frequently can-
vassed the homeowners in their locality in an effort to buy up any coins which might
be available. One day, in their pursuit of numismatic material, they met a little old
lady who had some coins in a metal box. There were only a few coins in the box, and
all but two - a 1793 half cent and an 1804 cent - were practically worthless. The old
lady explained that the coins had belonged to her grandfather and had been kept in the
box for over a hundred years. Dave and Al observed that neither the half cent nor the
cent showed any visible signs of wear - each looked to be new. Even more important,
the 1804 cent looked just like the picture in the Red Book - that one with the obverse and
reverse broken dies - and the 0 in the date lined up perfectly with the 0 if OF.
Dave and Al felt bighearted and generous that day, so they offered the little old
lady $50. for the two coins, which she accepted. But during the weeks that followed,
they brooded about their investment. After all, the color of both coins was a steel
gray; and all good numismatists know that half cents and large cents can be brown or
black, or shades of each, but never steel gray in color.
The more they thought about their purchase, the more they became convinced
that the coins were counterfeit. A pox on that nice-looking, crooked old lady!
Finally, a dealer member in their local coin club, on hearing of their bad investment,
offered to take the two coins off their hands for the same price they had paid - $50. -
because, as he put it, "I want them for my collection of counterfeit coins". Needless to
say, the two sharpies were happy to get their money back after being so badly gypped
by that nasty old lady; and I'm sure that the altruist who bought them for his collection
of phonies realized that they weren't counterfeit at all.
Has anyone recently purchased a steel gray 1804, near Mint State, with broken
dies? or perhaps a 1793 half cent which looks like it just left the Mint? It is my
sincere hope that these two ladies, after having been locked up for perhaps a hundred
years or more and having turned gray during their long confinement, may have finally
found some appreciative homes for themselves, especially after such a shady start !
- 203 -
THE CENT, AN ESSENTIAL MEDIUM OF EXCHANGE
Paul Carter
As a Johnny-come-iately to be bitten by the large cent bug, I find to my chagrin
that the cents, especially the Early Dates, are not only very expensive but also
difficult to find. The brutal fact that the big coppers saw a lot of circulation is force-
fully brought to my attention when I strain my eyes for an identifying feature on a coin
which hopefully will designate it as a variety that I do not have. Why is it that so
many of the big cents are in such poor condition? Much has been written about the
poor alloy of the copper, the attempt to preserve the dies by light striking, the passage
of time and the tendency of copper to deteriorate under adverse conditions. Along
with these detrimental factors, it is also well established that there were no coin
collectors in 1857 prior to the demise of the large cents, so many of the coins just
wore out from over-use. All of the aforementioned are well documented and factual,
having been discussed many times by students of numismatics. However, in my
perusal of various coin publications, I have never found much data that actually dealt
with the economic status of the early large cents.
I was fortunate recently in acquiring more than 500 letters, bills of sale, IOU's,
receipts, pages from ledgers listing services traded for goods, bills, payrolls, etc.,
all dating between 1785 and 1820, ninety-nine per cent of which deal with money matters.
In studying these to learn something of the economic conditions during the large cent
era, I found that they clearly accentuate the necessity of the cent as a medium of ex-
change and that all the documents substantiate the importance of the large cent for the
everyday transactions of the time.
I also found it interesting that among all these documents which covered
salaries for a state governor to the 66 cents per day paid a common laborer, there
was not one reference to a half cent. This was a bit of a surprise to me inasmuch
as the little midgets are particular friends of mine perhaps because my half
cents are in so much better condition than are my large cents which further
proves and accentuates the already established fact that the half cents just did not
circulate. Doesn't it seem odd that in so many documents dealing with money that
there wouldn't be at least one entry involving a half cent? particularly so, when
one finds the importance of the cent as a trade medium for the 1793-1814 period and
the odd values placed on many necessities in that era. As an example, one can take
potatoes which were priced at 33 cents a bushel. With such a low daily wage scale,
it would seem likely that a person might be able to buy only a half bushel at a time,
in which case there should be a demand for a half cent in change.
I found it of further interest that most of the documents before 1800 contained
entries in pounds, shillings, and pence. This was due, undoubtedly, to the prepon-
derance of English and other foreign coins still in circulation at that time. Then,
too, the accountants may have been having difficulty in adjusting to the new decimal
equivalents. After 1800, no further entries were found using the English pound
system, although dollai’s and cents were often written as $ 3=37 or $ 3:37.
r thought that it might be of some interest 'to compare the value of money in
the Early Date large cent era as an exchange medium for goods and services, so
I have compiled a list of prices of various items. No attempt was made to make the
list exhaustive, and only everyday items were considered. From the prices, it
can easily be seen that the cent was by no means a pittance at the time 5 on the
other hand, it was a most valuable coin. This fact further struck home to me that
cents used for oddball purposes such as buttons, washers, and the other umpteen
defacements we have found in recent years must have been done at a later date than
1820, for a man who worked for only 66 cents per day would undoubtedly think twice
about an hour's work for six washers.
In studying my documents, I found that there was very little fluctuation in the
prices of goods and services between 1785 and 1817 - at the most, maybe a cent or
two either way. Laborers were paid at the rate of 66$ to 75$ per day depending upon
one s individual skill. A team of oxen could be rented for about the same price as a
laborer or 75$ per day, while a team of horses cost 50$. For the use of a wagon -
one with wheels - an additional 25$ was charged a plow, harrow, sled, or wood
scoot did not command the extra 25$. The fact that oxen cost more tnan a team of
orses is understandable; oxen, being untiring animals, will work anywhere, even
m mud; whereas horses need to be rested so that they can blow and regain their wind.
Would you believe that I have driven both types of teams? As late as the 1930's,
oxen were used for heavy draft work in many parts of this nation.
In my collection of documents, the largest single transaction was for the sale
o pioperty - the sale consisted of 140 acres of land plus a large tract of salt meadow,
ba ™ and ^l 11, a C ° Ws three wa g° tls > and 3 °00 ^et of sawed lumber - all
’ * ’ * e smallest deal noted was 3$ for a pair of stays as a bid at an auction -
never wore em. what the heck are they, anyway?
Inasmuch as I did not want to convert the English system to the U.S. decimal
system, I have listed the prices of goods for the years 1800-1819:
1 pound of sugar
1 gallon of molasses
27$
20 quarts of milk
17$
12 quarts, corn meal
36$
1 bushel potatoes
33$
1 bushel turnips
27$
1 peck of salt
49$
1/2 peck of apples
8$
9 pounds of beef
97$
3 pounds of pork
97$
1 peck crackers
39$
1 gallon rum (New
England)
69$
1 gallon gin
$1.38
1 gill whiskey
8$
1 peck of rye (dry)
33$
1 pound tobacco
13$
1 Pig
$1.33
1 cow
20.00
1 sheep
1.27
1 cow, 2 oxen
69.00
1 fancy rocking chair
3.00
8 fancy walnut chairs
18.00
1 walnut bedstead
9.00
3,000 shingles
9.17
1 pair of shoes
1.60
Ae-soling shoes
.46
1 axe
1.83
1 handle for axe
.17
1 pair of bellows
.75
- 205 -
The prices realized at an auction in 1814 are interesting:
1 chest-of-drawers
6 pillow slips
1 pair of stays
1 broad axe
1 whet stone
1 hunting horn and balls
1 razor buttons
69£
31 <?
3 $
59 £
10 ^
50C
37C
*************
WHAT ABOUT ELECTROTYPES?
Herbert A. Silberman
The electrotype method is a process used to duplicate, with great detail and
extreme accuracy, an individual coin. The method is simple and direct, and the
result is easy to detect.
How is an electrotype made? First, wax impressions are made of the obverse
and reverse surfaces of the coin to be copied. The wax takes an extremely fine
impression, and the periphery can be trimmed easily to the required thickness.
The impressions are then gently coated with any electrically conductive material
such as graphite, powdered copper, etc. Next, the obverse and reverse pieces are
placed in a saline bath. A cathode is attached to the pieces to be plated, and an
anode is immersed in the same bath. (For reproducing copper pieces, a copper
anode is used; for silver, a silver rod is employed. ) Direct current is then used,
which causes copper to flow from the anode to the cathode, thereby depositing a
coating onto the prepared surface. When a coating of proper thickness has been
applied, the two shells are removed, trimmed, filled with metal (usually lead), then
joined together and trimmed.
The edges can be masterfully joined and sometimes are very difficult to detect.
Sometimes it is possible to find a concave edge (this can never occur on a struck coin).
An electrotype piece will not ring true when struck; and high or exposed
areas may be found occasionally, especially when the thin "shell" has worn through
and exposed the metal used as filler.
When in doubt, always weigh the coin. Large cents for the years 1793 to
1795 weigh 208 grains; those from 1796 to 1857 weigh 168 grains. Barring ex-
cessive wear, real copper cents should closely approximate the stated weights.
Be sure to note the thickness of the coin in question. An unusually thin or
thick planchet may be a disguise for a fraudulent weight.
Most important of all, if the coin doesn't ring true, then forget it. I've never
found an electrotype which had a "ring" to it; and I've never seen a true coin that
didn't.
*************
- 206 -
LETTERS TO THE ‘EDITOR
From JULIUS FELDMAN: "Momma Mia, but P-W No. 25 was a most delicious
meatball ! ! ! Enjoyed every tasty morsel, in particular Dane Nielsen's dramatic
telling of the Central States Convention and the Masters' auction sale. (I really
felt as if I were right there with all the gang. ) And I also liked our new member's
story of how he (Bob Sc hum an ) was initiated into the EAC.
I especially look forward to those various reports on regional conventions
and of meetings all over the country, as we have so very few shows here in
Arizona. So you roving reporters Wright, Nielsen, Brown, Smith, Palmer, etc.
....... keep up the good work !
Pom Wolf sure is plugging hard to get the annual EAC meeting to Miami in
January. Good luck, Tom !
Paul Carter's experimenting with foil pressings set me a-dabbling too
and I think that I have come up with the answer to our problems - the most serious
one being the handling and re-handling of the foil after the pressing was made,
which usually resulted in the pressing becoming pretty well mashed up. To over-
come this problem, I've taken a regular 2x2 coin mount (half dollar size) and cut
two pieces of foil 2x2. Then I applied a very thin layer of Elmer's Glue to both
sides of the mount on the inside, after which I appended the foil on each side
(I prefer the dull side down). The foil should be pressed down firmly with a blotter
or piece of paper - let this dry for a few minutes only. To make the pressing,
insert your coin between the foils and close the mount, insert the mount in the press,
exert a little pressure, and PRESTO ! you have the most fantastic foil pressings
which you have ever seen. Remove the mount from the press, flip out the coin,
staple the 2x2 mount, and there you have it. There's only one word of caution: do
not use too much Elmer's Glue or it will spill over the transparent windows in the
mount and spoil their looks.
d seems to me that this transparent material prevents the foil from sticking
to the press and acts as a cushion or seat to really make some ideal pressings. I
made one pressing of an 1839 N-9 which shows the die crack mentioned by Newcomb
much better than you can see it on the actual coin. I'll be happy to supply samples
of the mounts or pressings to anyone who writes me, requesting them. For
samples, write me: Julius Feldman, 2475 North Haskell Drive, #554N, Tucson,
Arizona 85716. (Editor's Note: Julius enclosed some samples, and they appear
even better than he describes them. Try his method it's easy and good ! )
From PAUL CARTER: "The wife and I took a vacation up into Maine. Had a good
time. Took the coastal route up, then cut inland for the rest of the trip. I have been
too busy to do anything with the big cents this summer. Have done a few flea
markets with junk coins and other stuff which I've picked up. I did fairly well
financially with one coin show on the Cape as well as had a lot of fun. "
From EUGENE EXMAN: "Sorry to be late with my check for my PENNY-WISE
subscription. I'll add a small bonus. "
From LILLIAN SEILER WILLINS (MRS. T. N., Jr. ): "Please have the spelling of
my last name corrected in the next issue of P-W, as it was spelled incorrectly:
"Williams" (in Vol. V, No, 3, page 91). If possible, I would appreciate having
my name reflected as follows:
Lillian Seiler Willjns (Mrs. T. N. Jr.)
Some of the EAC members knew me prior to my marriage eight years ago as
Miss "Seiler" and they do not know that I have changed my name to Willins. Print-
ing my name as shown above would clarify the matter.
I became a twenty-five year member of A.N. A. this year, and I am hoping
to be able to make the convention in Washington, D.C. , having made my reserva-
tion at the Hilton. The last ANA convention I was able to attend was in Boston
many years ago - and I have my fingers tightly crossed that all goes well for me
this time and that I shall find myself in Washington by August 11th and can remain
through the 14th. I am most anxious to meet you and the other EAC members who
will be attending. It will be a wonderful treat for me as there is no one in my home
area who is seriously interested in the study of large cent varieties. I have had to
be a "loner" for many years. "
From JOHN W. ADAMS: "PENNY-WISE No. 25 was simply super. I cannot wait
until Part 1 1 1 of John Wright's auction catalog opus appears ! And Dane Nielsen
certainly gets my vote for permanent roving reporter.
On a recent business trip to Chicago and Los Angeles, I found time to duck
into seven of their local coin shops. With one outrageously overpriced exception,
there were no Early Dates in stock which could threaten VF. During my various
visits, I had a chance to talk to the author of the catalog for the recent Masters'
sale. I got a distinct feeling that his recent intensive exposure to the cent-
collecting fraternity was not an altogether happy experience. I've been wondering
just how many of you guys "put it to him".
I'm enclosing a trade offer for inclusion in Swaps & Sales which might turn
on one or two of your Draped Bust enthusiasts. "
From WILLIAM E. HOPKINS, M.D. : "Well, I see that you've done it again -
first, an excellent article in the April NUMISMATIST on the effects of yellow fever
on the early Mint in Philadelphia - and now, in the August issue of the same esteemed
journal, another fine article entitled 'Uses and Abuses of U.S. Large Cents'. All I
can say is a sincere 'Congratulations' ! The research required to write such articles
as these requires a great deal of time and effort. Still, it represents 'fun' time;
and one's satisfaction in achieving a finished product such as these two articles
makes the effort well worthwhile.
I am enclosing a recent newspaper article from our EAC vice-president,
Robinson S. Brown, Jr. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to meet him,
I hope to do so one of these days.
I recently bought one of Tom Wolf's presses and am delighted with the
impressions which it makes. My fifteen-year-old son thinks it is really fantastic ,
which makes it A-OK.
I greatly enjoyed the coverage of the Central States Convention by Dane
Nielsen, William R. T. Smith, and Robert Schuman.
This letter would not be complete unless I expressed by appreciation to you for
the fine job you do as Editor of PENNY-WISE. Keep up the good work!"
(Editor's Note: The article on V.P. Brown is reported elsewhere in this issue. )
From PHILIP L. BRANSON: "About six mouths ago, I had a most interesting
visit in Atlanta with John Wright and his charming wife, Mabel Ann. I invited them
to join me for dinner at a local restaurant where the food was good but very meager.
I apologize to you, John - I didn't realize that you were such a big man - not only
mentally but also structurally.
My conviction is that John is at the top on his so-called Tammanys. Had he
devoted the same amount of time and research to the Sheldon series, he might have
accomplished more. To me, the Newcomb cents, while attractive and of fairly con-
siderable variation, will never begin to have the charm of the older big cents.
Your PENNY-WISE is good, but don't let praise deter you. Adulation is
heady medicine.
There are no constructive suggestions which I can offer except that I would
like to see more articles on the half cents. And if the EAC is as hard up as you
sometimes indicate, I would recommend that you at least double the dues."
(Editor's Note: Phil Branson's letter is one of the most constructive we have had
occasion to receive for some time. We deeply appreciate his comments and are
seriously considering his many points for subsequent implementaion. Good to hear
from you, Phil - and our most sincere thanks ! )
From ROD BURRESS: "I am enclosing an ad for photocopy sets of PENNY-WISE.
(See Swaps & Sales) I have recently sold a couple of these sets to new members,
so I am enclosing $10. for the EAC treasury.
As an employee of Federated Department Stores, I have gotten the opportunity
to visit Brooklyn twice in the last several months while doing consulting work at
Abraham and Straus. I was able to do some sightseeing in the downtown neighbor-
hoods and I was impressed by the subsway systems and the old brownstone houses."
(Editor's Note: EAC thanks Rod for his generous donation to the treasury. It is
people like Rod and gifts such as his which have permitted us to continue publication
of PENNY-WISE at a minimum cost to the members. )
From DARWIN B. PALMER, JR.: "Please enter a correction: at the Kansas City
Coin Show, as reported upon in the last issue of P-W, I found only one S-195.
Also, the S-189 of Leland Rodgers' famous type set, as reported on page 127
of PENNY-WISE, Vol. V, No. 4, was not the Hines-Downing-EAC plate coin. I
don't know where Leland got his S-189 or anything about his coin's pedigree, but
the Hines-Downing specimen is now in the collection of a well-known large cent
collector who is a fellow EAC member. "
From DANE B. NIELSEN: "I believe that the last issue of PENNY-WISE had to
be the finest ever! Reports of conventions and EAC meetings are my favorite
articles. Bob Schuman and Darwin Palmer did excellent jobs, as did everyone else
who contributed. By the way, keep printing excerpts from your "Letters to the
Editor" - they help us to learn more about those who are just beginning or who are
perhaps more reserved.
John Wright's article on cent sales crystallizes a few things although most
collectors who know their cents are pretty well acquainted with most of the sales.
However, I anticipate some helpful information from him on some of the lesser
known sales. In my opinion, his comments in the previous issue were not quite
as authoritative, especially with regard to grading by the various firms. Only
one - New Netherlands - has my unqualified support. All others, several times
at least, have yielded to the temptation to put dollars above accuracy. Of course,
the vast majority never grade anywhere near Dr. Sheldon's standards.
As a closing note on the Masters sale, I noted that the ex-Newcomb S-30 of
1794 which had been graded by WHS as AU50 was sold as a Mint State for $825.
The dealer from Boston who bought it is now pricing it near $2,000.
One reservation about the July 15 P-W: I missed your introductory message
on the first page. Everyone with whom I have spoken or communicated has ex-
pressed the same feeling. (Editor's Note: this was done because of the lengthy
July 15 issue and to save a little money for our kitty. The same comment was re-
ceived from a number of EAC members. Thanks very much. It's nice to know
that I was missed ! )
As you undoubtedly know, I was excited to see your article in THE
NUMISMATIST for August, 1971 - it was excellently presented ! except that it
would have been nice to state that much of the article was reprinted from P-W.
Any plug we can get is great ! (The two articles which I have had published in
THE NUMISMATIST were both completely re-written and added to from the articles
as they originally appeared in P-W. I shall insist that future articles, if any are
used, should mention that they had previously appeared in P-W - The Editor).
I very much appreciated the many letters which I got expressing interest in
my CSNS report. It was especially nice to hear from those people personally who
had not previously communicated with me. I hope to read of similar experiences in
the September issue of P-W regarding the ANA Convention, although the sale cent-
wise does not compare with the CSNS meeting. Henceforth, I intend to drop a line
to those whose efforts end up in print in PENNY-WISE.
Time to sign off. This must be the earliest you have ever heard from me
while getting an issue together. I guess that it's because I'm not submitting any
article this issue.
Been out to your New Jersey vacation home? Wish I were there - 11th
straight 90 degree-plus day in LA. Need I say more?"
From CHARLES L. RUBY: (Mailed from Anchorage, Alaska) "We are just
home from our 49th state. Am not sure whether or not our paths have crossed,
but hope that they do before long maybe at the ANA Convention in Washington,
D. C. on August 10-14. I hope to visit the New York area in the near future - but
not on this trip east. Can't be away for more than two weeks now. You are doing
a fine job as editor. EAC collectors are lucky to have you and Herb Silberman
who are willing and able to do all the work."
From GEORGE V. NELSON: "I've never put an ad in Swaps & Sales before, but I'd
like to do so in the September issue of P-W. This is the last of my half cents, as I
am now solely interested in the cents of 1794. This is nothing against half cents
(one day someone is going to make a fortune from them because they are so much
under-rated and under-valued) but now, at my age, I have settled on one particular
year of the large pennies. "
From WILLIAM R. T. SMITH: "I would really like to see PENNY-WISE arrive in
the mail every month. Perhaps if enougn of us contribute articles, such might not
be out of the question. Anyway, I have enclosed two articles for your consideration.
These represent my recent efforts.
Incidentally, whenever I buy tne Red Book eacn year, I always like to check to
see how the 1802 Rev. of 1800 half cent is doing. It finally made a big move this year.
Somehow, I still remember seeing one advertised about 1959 or 1960 in VGfor
$1,750. , only $1, 000. over its present catalog value. The only other one which I have
ever seen offered for sale was the one in tne Brobston collection which then re-
appeared in the Century Sale auction. Another was recently advertised in the classi-
fied ad section of COIN WORLD. I requested a photograph of it. It turned out to be
the 1802 G-l (new reverse) of the Brobston and Miles collections. It also turned out,
according to the August 11, 1971 issue of COIN WORLD, that the advertiser is under
Federal indictment for mail fraud in New Jersey.”
From ROGER S. COHEN: "Had a great time at the ANA Convention. I particularly
enjoyed the EAC meeting. Ray Munde and I talked to anyone who would discuss our
beloved little girls - the half cents !"
From GEORGE K. PRETSCH: "Great coin snow articles and auction reporting in PW
No. 25. It was good of those who attended to think of those EACers who were unable
to attend. "
From HERB SILBERMAN: This letter was received just after P-W went to press:
"Dear Doc: We have just published our last P-W. The members obviously are not
interested enough to even pay their dues. The list of EAC numbers below represents
those members who have not paid their dues in 1971. The asterisk after a number
means that the member never purchased his token either. Granted, tne EAC token is
not exceptional, but its purchase by a member would help the kitty. Our present bal-
ance should just about cover the present issue. After that, we're broke !
2, 3, 5, 7*, 17, 19, 26*, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 42, 44, 53, 58, 63, 69,
73*, 75, 87, 88, 92, 103, 107, 112, 117*, 133, 150, 151, 153, 157*, 160*, 169, 171,
174, 175, 184*, 187, 189, 190, 192*, 193, 194*, 203*, 204*, 205*, 206*, 207*, 208*,
209, 210, 211*, 212*, 213*, 214*, 215*, 217*, 219*, 222*, 223*, 224*, 225*, 226*,
227*, 228*, 229, 230, 231*, 232*, 233, 234, 235*, 236*, 237*, 238.
In addition, we have the following tokens available for members who have paid
their dues but who did not buy a token: 55, 78, 99, 104, 108, 111, 115, 122, 134,
138, 142, 152, 166, 216, 220, 239, 240, 241, 244, 245, 248, 249, 252, 253.
I'm sure that a great many of tne listed members represent "drop outs" whom
we'll never see or hear from again. In any case, should we be able to continue, we
must remove all delinquents from our mailing list. Your next issue of P-W will
have to be minimal, without cuts and offset printing, but even the issue will have to
wait until we collect some money.
Doc, you and I have put more money, and in your case, more time and effort
into this club than tne rest of tne members put together, and it's about time tnat
someone else ante'd up."
SO THAT'S the story if you owe and want to pay up, then send
your check at once if you want to buy a token, send your request and a check,
and the piece will be mailed you if you want to contribute to tne cause, any
amount would be welcomed if you're a "drop out" and will tell us why, we'd like
to know send all communications to Herbert A. Silberman, % EAC, P.O.
Box 336, Brentwood, L. I., New York 1171*7.
- 211 -
A SURVEY OF 'LARGE CENT AUCTIONS
Part 1 1 1: Rated Auctions
John D. Wright
Even with a two-point cutoff level, the list of significant large cent offerings
since 1944 has continued to grow over the last few months. Auction catalogues
have been separated out as being the original intent of this study, and a separate
section has been provided for fixed-price offerings. Due to the size of these lists
the fixed-price section will be presented in the next issue of Penny-Wise. Several
of the catalogues listed in the last P-W as "unseen” have now been seen and only
a few of them rate significant.
Perhaps a four-point or a five-point cutoff might have been more meaningful,
but the die was cast so it's all here. An explanation of the rating-system used here,
based on extensiveness, rarity, and condition, appeared in P-W 25, pages 120-123.
The starred sales in these lists are significantly better than most large cent offer-
ings, with the double stars commonly being referred to as "super sales".
Note that at least two collectors, J. P. Young and J. S. Sawicki, formed
and sold a fabulous cent collection only to find that the cent bug would not let up
that easily. Each later formed and sold an even better collection of ceuts. Ray
Chatham sold his collection in 1959, yet he is today an active EACC'er. The
same holds for Bill VanRoden. Penny-itis, like malaria, is never wholly cured.
Many "name" collections are NOT listed here because their cents lacked
attributions or were not sufficiently numerous, rare, or choice. These sales were
not "forgotten" — they just did not make the grade. Consider the following ex-
amples:
1. In the Masters collection, seven of the choice early cents were
listed "ex-Pelletreau". Where is the Pelletreau listing?
The Pelletreau collection was choice, but unattributed.
2. Where is the Pearl Sale?
It was a fixed-price offering. See the next issue of P-W.
3. Where is the listing for the famous Dr. French collection?
French was a fixed-price offering from early Depression days —
14 years before the start of this study.
A few collections which were offered through a series of sales are tallied at
the end of the auction list and are there rated as if they had been a single sale for
each collection. Generally, these are duplications of previously-listed sales.
RATING
SALE
POINTS
DATE
COMPANY
NOTES
*
Newcomb I
343 —
7 Feb 45
Morgenthau
—
132
27 Apr 45
Blue stone 87
*
Newcomb II
— 343
16 May 45
Morgenthau
1
*
Young I
323 —
7 Jul 45
Bluestone 88
Young 1 1
— 2-3
29 Sep 45
Bluestone 89
—
11
21 Jun 46
Bluestone 93
2
Deetz 1 1
2-1 1—
16 Nov 46
Stack's
Geiss
1-2 —
18 Feb 47
Mehl 109
*
Neil
222 2-1
17 June 47
Mehl 110
*
Sheraton
223 1-2
26 Aug 47
Num. Gallery
5
ANA 47
Hughes
21- 22-
9 Apr 48
Stack's
3
Green
112 1-1
26 Apr 49
Mehl 112
*
Starr dupes
— 333
22 Aug 49
Num. Gallery
4
ANA 49
*
Garrabrant
222 231
19 Nov 49
Stack's
ANS dupes
21- 21-
20 May 50
NN 30
**
Williams
333 313
14 Nov 50
Num. Gallery
7
South
—2 —
24 Feb 51
Stack's
8
Wismer
11
13 Apr 51
NN 33
**
Young I
333 333
8 Sep 51
Bolender 181
9
—
111 —
20 Sep 51
HK 105
6
Brand
Hall-Wurtzbach
—2 —
5 Oct 51
NN 34
10
Young 1 1
— 231
10 Nov 51
Bolender 182
11
—
11
28 Nov 51
HK 109
6
212 —
31 Jan 52
HK 113
6, 12
*
Downing
343 121
16 Aug 52
NN 38
ANA 52
—
21
31 Oct 52
HK 134
6
Pawling
121 —
22 Nov 52
NN 39
13
*
Agnew
Downing- Williams
21- 221
9 Dec 52
Num. Gallery
McPherson
11- 21-
26 Feb 53
Stack's
*
—
211 322
10 May 53
Kabealo
*
Ryder
1-3 2-2
26 Sep 53
NN 41
MANA 53
21
23 Oct 53
NN 42
Sawicki
—2 1-3
27 Feb 54
Stack's
—
111 —
27 Feb 54
HK 174
14
—
112 —
13 Mar 54
HK 176
14, 15
Davis -Graves I
1-2 1-1
8 Apr 54
Stack's
—
1-1 —
28 Apr 54
HK 178
14
—
112 —
29 May 54
HK 180
14, 15
Allen-Kissner
— 331
23 June 54
NN 44
- 213 -
14, 16
—
— 2 —-
7 Aug 54
HK 184
ANA 54
—3 —2
17 Aug 54
Federal
**
DuPont I
343 323
24 Sep 64
Stack's
MANA 54
22- -21
22 Oct 54
Imperial
—
11
28 Feb 55
HK 192
**
Warfield
343 343
28 Oct 55
Associated
Sternberg
111 1-2
2 Mar 56
Bolender 190
*
Clarke
212 2-2
21 Apr 56
Kosoff
—
— 121
9 Jun 56
Mason-Dixon
—
11
10 Sep 56
HK 207
—
21- 1—
29 Mar 57
Mayflower
ANA 57
231 —
20 Aug 57
Federal
jR.ee d
1— 1—
28 Sep 57
Stack's
*
—
333 —
31 Oct 57
HK 214
Empire
1— 1—
12 Nov 57
Stack's
**
Boyd-Gaskill I
333 343
6 Dec 57
NN 50
Mayfield
1— 1—
30 Jan 58
Stack's
Freeman
1-1 1-1
23 May 58
Kreisberg
—
211 —
30 Aug 58
HK 220
NENA 58
-11 —
11 Oct 58
Old Colony
Landau
—1 —1
13 Dec 58
NN 52
—2 —1
13 Mar 59
NY-NJ
—
1— 1—
21 Apr 59
Kelly
*
Straus
222 212
1 May 59
Stack's
Holland
—3 1-3
8 May 59
Pennypacker
—
1 1-
16 Jun 59
NN 53
*
Sloss
1-3 1-3
21 Oct 59
Kosoff
—
2-
18 Dec 59
Numisma
—
1— 1—
30 Jan 60
French's 72
Hussey
2-3 1-1
22 Apr 60
NN 54
*
Holmes I
213 2-2
11- 11-
5 Oct 60
4 Nov 60
Stack's
Kelly
**
Schwartz
Taylor- Gallo
343 343
11 Oct 61
Kosoff
Penn -Ohio 61
111 —
13 Oct 61
Federal
—
22- 1—
2 Mar 62
Stack's
NY Metro 62
1— 2—
26 Apr 62
Stack's
—
111 —
16 Jun 62
HK 243
—
1-1 1-1
27 Jun 62
NN 56
—
1-1 —
21 Jul 62
Mayflower
Colvin
MANA 62
231 —
19 Oct 62
French's 80
—
121 1—
15 Jan 63
W.E. Johnson
—
21- —
19 Jan 63
Mayflower
Lathrman
2-1 2-1
1 Feb 63
Kosoff
14
18
19
20
17
22
21, 24
21
23
25, 27
- 214 -
—
Ill
—
4 Feb
,63
HK 247
25
Reakirt
—2
--1
26 Mar
63
Columbus S&C
26
—
121
—
15 Apr
63
HK 249
25
—
111
11-
17 Jun
63
Kreisberg
QM 1
222
—
29 Jun
63
HK QM 1
25
*
Wallace
33-
331
14 Dec
63
Stack's
*
—
222
11-
18 Feb
64
Wo E» Johnson
25, 28
QM 3
111
—
5 Mar
64
HK QM 3
25
*
Helfenstein
1-3
223
14 Aug
64
Merkin
29
*
Sawicki
123
1-2
19 Aug
64
Fed, Brand
ANA 64
*
QM 4
233
—
31 Aug-
64
HK QM 4
25, 30
Oswald
—3
—
13 Oct
64
Christie's
31
*
QM 6
223
1-1
22 Feb
65
HK QM 6
25
Century Sale
11-
—
30 Apr
65
Paramount
—
21-
—
26 Feb
66
Mayflower
—
11-
—
30 Jun
66
HK 264
31
Fritz
* -11
1-1
19 Oct
66
Merkin
—
123
—
27 Oct
66
HK 266
31
—
11-
—
28 Nov
66
HK 267
31
Stearns
1-2
1-2
2 Dec
66
Mayflower
—
111
—
11 Mar
67
French's 90
—
112
1-2
15 Jun
67
NN 59
ANA 67
231
1—
8 Aug
67
Paramount
32
—
—
1-1
20 Sep
67
Merkin
—
—1
1 —
25 Sep
67
Kreisberg
—
1—
211
26 Sep
67
NN no number
31
Thurlow
331
—
8 Dec
67
Mayflower
33
NASC 13th
11-
1 —
15 Feb
68
Numis, Ent 0
34
—
11-
—
9 Mar
68
HK 276
31
*
Van Roden
112
211
2 May 68
Stack's
—
—
21-
24 Sep
68
Hillcrest 1
31
Saslow
121
—
18 Jan
69
RARCOA
36
Miles
1-2
1-1
10 Apr
69
Stack's
—
21-
—
1 May 69
Hazelcorn
35
—
222
—
30 Sep
70
HK 291
35, 38
**
Masters
233
1-2
14 May 71
RARCOA
39
**
Newcomb
343
343
I: 7 Feb
45
Morgenthau
1793-1814
11:16 May 45
1816-1857
*
Young
323
2-3
88: 7 Jul
45
Bluestone
1793-1814
89:29 Sep
45
1816-1857
**
Young
333
333
181: 8 Sep
51
Bolender
1793-1826
182:10 Nov
51
1827-1857
**
Boyd-Gaskill
333
343
50: 6 Dec
57
NN
1793-1839
51:19 June 58
1840-1857
—
223
—
174:27 Feb
54
HK
1793-1797
176:13 Mar
54
1798-1802
180:29 May
■54
1803-1814
- 215 -
************ **** ***
Explanation of Notes: ,
1. 1816-1857 sold intact to Floyd Starr
2. Freak cents
3. Dealer's stock
4. Duplications from merging of Newcomb and Hines collections of 1816-1857
5. Offered 1945 at about four times the prices
6. Mail bid only
7. Hare Tammanys stripped out
8. 16 choice 1794's
9. Thru 1826
10. Thirty-seven 1794's
11. From 1827
12. 26 lots ex- French ( 1931 )
13. FourNC's
14. Mail bid only
15. TwoNC's
16. 26 lots 1794's, 5’s
17. Mail bid only
18. Forty 1794's
19. Condition in depth
20. Mail bid sale in May NSM
21. Mail bid only
22. 103 lots, all choice
23. 42 different 1794's, among others
24. House organ for NN, published 1954-59 or later
25. Mail bid only
26. Mail bid sale in Mar NSM
27. 50 per cent still listed next year
28. 80 per cent still listed next year at fixed prices
29. 322 large cents, all choice
30. FourNC's
31. Twenty-two 1794's, all choice
32. Mail bid only
33. Many cents mis-attrlbuted
34. Many resold in Saslow
35. Some Tammanys mis-attributed
36. Mail bid only
37. Most were re-offers from Thurlow
38. Many from ANA 64
39. Most choice, some mis-attributed
* ^ ^ ^ >jc )|C * )fC ^ * ?{< ^ )|C * 5{c * ^ * * 5|C * 5jC ^ ^ ^ ^ )jc >jc )|C * 5jC >j< * * ^ ))C
BUYING UNITED STATES HALF CENTS AND LARGE CENTS
We have a great need for better grade early and late date large cents and
half cents. Proper attributions and grading necessary. Please bear in
mind that we are dealers and that the coins are for resale. You may ship
directly to us for our offer or to our bank. Write for details concerning
the latter method. FIRST COINVESTORS, INC.
16 McKinley Avenue
Albertson, New York 11507
j^************************ ************:*:************* ***********************
- 216 -
************** * * * * * *
SWAPS & SALES
appear. * ^ C ° Py lS received > the more likely that it will
*****
********
FOR SALE OR TRADE: PHOTOCOPIES OF PENNY-WISE
Complete sets of PENNY-WISE for sale at $27. each, postpaid Each set
faXr I wuTriv <SePt ' T thmUgh 1971> a “ d ‘° talS ° ver 900 pa S es with
ndexes. I will give proportionate prices for partial sets or individual issues and
I will also consider trade offers of large cents. ’
Rod Burress
9830 Overview Lane
Cincinnati, Ohio 45231
********* ;( . >( . J)C)(:
FOR TRADE: 1801 THREE ERRORS (S-219); Condition EF-45: lovelv tan to
TOU trlTf SU h a h eS W d h P ° C / ketS °* min ‘ red; aV6rage strike ’ “o defects.
1 trade for hLgh grade and/or rare 1794 (s) Large Cents of comnarahlP
importance. Contact: John W. Adams, 19 Marsh Street, Dedham, Mass. 02026.
********** %J|5:4 .
BUYING HALF CENTS ONLY:
them“l?i°. S< ShL t cof ™ waat< ; d " Uttle Ha| f Sisters" by selling them to me. I love
" h P s *° me for of f er or send list with condition and asking price.
Roger S. Cohen, Jr. 4720 Montgomery Lane, Bethesda, Maryland 20014
********** ;) . ;( . ;) .
FOR SALE: Coins of F ranee and the French Revolution.
Copper and bron/.e:
laird 1721-s (Cr. 1) EF plus, luster. Scarce type
1/2 sol 1770-s, (Ciani 2145) EF, plus or minus. Rare crude coinage
from Aix mint. Unlisted in Craig. g
1/2 sol 1788-ma (Cr. 72) EF some luster
(Cr. 73) EF
(Cr. 73) EF
(Cr. 73) VF plus
(Cr. 73) AU
1 sol 1788-w
1 sol 1786-w
1 sol 1791 -a
1 sol 1791-r
12 deniers 1791-a (Cr. 88) about EF, struck in brass
5 centimes L'an 8-aa (Cr. 135) EF
Un decime 1814-bb (Cr. 174) EF plus, about as struck
Scarce type
$19.
$15.
11 .
7.
7.
7.
11 .
6.50
8 .
19.50
- 217 -
Silver
l/l2 ecu 1658-d (Ciaui 1852) AU luster $19.
l/l2 ecu 1661-r (Ciani 1865) EF plus, luster 19.
Ecu 1704/1701 EF Louis XIV reformation (value) coinage.
Da. 1320 struck over Dav. 1316 63.
1/3 ecu 1721-t (Cr. 30) AU, minor adjustment, scarce type 47.
1/2 ecu 1754-w (Cr. 46) VF plus 23.
1/2 ecu 1791-a (Cr. 77) VF plus 35.
12 sols 1784-aa (Cr. 75) EF 9.
Ecu 1791-b (Cr. 93) (Dav. 1335) VF-VF plus 38.
30 sols 1791-i (Cr. 91) about VF 13.
5 Fr. L'an-12-1 (Cr. 145) VG 8.
Coins sent on approval to all EAC members who have a minimum of one year
membership in EAC. Telephone 516-541-9733.
George K. Pretsch 27 Beechwood Place, Massapequa Park, New York 11762
DARWIN B. PALMER, JR. 217 West Broadway, Columbia Missouri 65201
Desired by serious collector of die breaks:
A. Bisecting Die Crack Specimens: S-14, S-68, 1802 NCI,
1839 N-l III, 1848 N-18
B. Varieties with Large Rim Break at Point of Bust:
S-223, S-249, S-254
C. Varieties with Large Rim Break Over UNITED:
1816 N-l, 1818 N-2, 1835 N-4.
Please write to Darwin Palmer, Jr. at above address.
*************
WILLIAM R. T. SMITH 111 Garrison Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois 60091
For Sale or Trade - Early Silver Dollars
1796
B-4
F
1798 B-15a
F
1801 B-4
F-VF
1797
B-l
F plus
1799 B4
VG
1802/1 B-4
VG
1798
B-lla
VF-EF
1800 B-14a
F
1803 B-6
VG
Wanted: VF or better - S-74, 77, 78, 155, 219, 274, 278
F or better - S-150, 195, 234, 240, 1802 NCI
VG or better - 3-264, 1803 NCI
FOR SALE ... to a serious collector interested in real nice half cents.
1825 (G-l) a true UNC ! The surfaces are lovely, in fact proof-like . Tne
color is olive-brown (if you look hard enough, you will see a slight trace of
red in front of the profile ). Stars, hair, date, denticles, leaves, etc. are
all sharp.
- 218 -
Incidentally, to my knowledge, the mintage of 1825 half cents is really a
low one (63,000), I call this coin in its condition RARE, RARE ! The price
is $85. The first member gets it !
GEORGE V. NELSON 340 West 57th Street, New York, New York 10019
*************
JEFF
PECK
Box 80, Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
Large cents for sale at my cost. Shipped postpaid and insured,
with a
seven
day return on each coin.
1800
S-193
VG, but slightly rough, with some scratches and slight
rust. Overdate very clear, and it still is a collectable
G4. Rarity 5 ! !
$20.
1800
S-196
Very good-8
12.
1800
S-207
VG, but pit marks on obverse field, still G4 Rarity 4 ! !
12.
1802
S-241
Near fine, but a couple of small, short scratches
present. Still a nice coin -- VG7
20.
1803
S-254
VG7, with a heavily advanced die break between bust
and rim.
10.
1803
S-255
VG7, nice, with one slignt rim bruise
15.
1813
S-292
F12 — a very clean coin, evenly worn, and very nice
*************
50.
CHARLES S.
FOR SALE:
LATHAM 802 Fenton Road, Marion, Indiana 46952
1796
S-81
Fr 2 Some pitting Obv.
$11.
1798
S-181
G4 Dark, some corros.
14.
1800
3-190
Fr 3 Weak strike
8.
1800
S-197
G4 Dark
6.
1802
S-225
VG 8/7
18.
1802
S-236
G/VG
8.
1803
S-255
VG+
9.
1810
S-281
G
9.
1810
S-282
G/VG
10.
1812
S-290
AG
4.
************
WANTED
1799 Large Cent. Normal date. Evenly struck with sharp, bold date and
"Liberty" ! ! A tough request, I know. Must grade a minimum of Fine-15, but
preferably better. With good natural color or patina (no heavy pitting, etc. ) and
nice reasonably clear surfaces, consistent with respective grade. A coin witn minor
impairment would be considered, although a perfectly sound coin is preferred, if
possible. Please advise — giving full details and price. Thank you.
The following types of 1793 Large Cents — Chain "Ameri.", "America",
and The "Liberty Cap" type. Just common varieties needed for early "Copper"
type set. I prefer coins with a nice natural tan or chocolate patina, having excellent
surfaces. All coins must grade between Fine-15 and E.F.-40. Coins with heavy
corrosion, granularity, pitting, or any other major damage are not desired. Coins
with reasonably minor impairments would be considered. I am also interested in
choice Half Cents of 1793-1797 period, including the scarce 1797 lettered edge "type".
Please advise — with full details — of what ypu hatpe available and price. Thank you.
ROBERT R. SHAW 74 Pond Street, Newton Massachusetts 02158
» '
c
-•
•4
EARLY AMERICAN COPPERST^VX
1705 N. Westmoreland Drive
Orlando, Florida 32804
'w- Vyv .
\
c£>
Mr.
Eric P. lewman numismatic Educational
6450 Cecil Aye.
St. Louis, Mo.
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